Srinagar, September 20: At least 20 people were injured after Indian paramilitary forces used brute force and fired shells in Srinagar and Baramulla on Friday.
Indian police and Para military troops prevented hundreds of people from marching to the southern town of Shopian. Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had called for the march to express solidarity with the people of Shopian who are facing strict curfew from last fourteen days. Five people in two different incidents were killed by Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 14th battalion in Gagren firing in Shopian on September 7 and 11.
Police used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters both in Nowhatta, Khaniyar, Zadibal in Srinagar, Baramulla, Kulgam and Islamabad districts. The injured included two photojournalists. The injured photojournalists have identified as Tawseef Mustafa of AFP and Parvez (Aijaz) Ahmad of Press TV. Among the injured, eight people have got injured due pellets fired by forces.
Iranian Press TV's video journalist Ejaz Ahmad suffered injuries when police and paramilitary forces resorted to intense teargas shelling to disperse a protest demonstration. Witnesses said the forces also fired rubber bullets and pellet bombs to foil the march.
Shopian has remained under curfew for 14 consecutive days since September 7 when four people, including four civilians, were killed in firing by the CRPF personnel in the Gagren area of the Shopian district. The protesters were demanding immediate arrest of forces personnel involved into the killing of civilians in Shopian.
Fifth civilian, a father of child was killed in the curfew-bound district on September 11.
Reports said police arrested the youth from a shrine in the area who had taken shelter there during police chase in Srinagar.
The APHC spokesman said that despite the attack by the police, the procession led by Hurriyat leader Muhammad Shafi Khan and Yaqoob Masoodi reached Rangar Stop in Srinagar where they were again attacked by the Indian police and paramilitary troops. He said that they beat people and fired tear gas canisters thereby injuring dozens of people in a bid to stop the Shopian march. The police also raided the historic Mirwaiz Manzil Rajouri Kadal, the head office of Awami Action Committee, and conducted a search operation there.
Scores of truck drivers blocked Sonamarag-Kargil road in Ganderbal district today after Indian Army personnel thrashed a truck driver without any provocation.
Agitated truck drivers said that Indian Army personnel stopped a loaded truck (JK13-7789) heading towards Kargil near BajriNallah, Zojila on the pretext that the driver Abdul Hamid Itoo proceeded without waiting for their signal.
“I simply told them that every vehicle moves ahead without waiting for their signal. They dragged me out from the truck and thrashed me ruthlessly. When I resisted, they beat me with gun butts and tore my clothes,” Itoo said.
Another truck driver, Mushtaq Ahmed Akhoon said that Indian Army personnel tried to throw Itoo into the deep gorge.
Scores of truck drivers assembled near BajriNallah and blocked the road.
In charge Traffc Police of Sonamarag, Manzoor Ahmed confirmed that driver was beaten to pulp without any provocation. ‘