Kashmir Violence: CRPF vehicle attacked by protestors runs over 3 in Srinagar; one dies, internet service suspended
Srinagar Violence: CRPF vehicle attacked by protestors runs over 3 in Kashmir; one dies, internet service suspended
The protestors targeted a CRPF vehicle during clashes in downtown Srinagar after which it ran over three people in an attempt to escape from being lynched. This incident later triggered a fresh violence in Kashmir and criticism for the government. The vehicle came under attack from a group of stone-pelters near Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on Friday. One among the three, Yonis Ahmed, who had received serious injuries, later scummed to death. Kaiser was said to be “very critical” and “on life support”, passed away around midnight. The CRPF has been booked by J&K police.
After Friday prayers at the mosque, scores of protesters shouting anti-India slogans clashed with police. They surrounded a CRPF vehicle and pelted stones at it, reported HT. The clashes erupted in Srinagar'a Nowhattta area took place just a few days before Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit in the Valley.
According to NDTV, Mr Singh had planned to use his visit to not only review preparations for the Amarnath Yatra due to begin on June 29 but more importantly, signal his intent to engage with all stakeholders including the Hurriyat leaders.
J&K Police have registered 2 FIRs against CRPF's Srinagar Unit over death of a stone-pelter in Nowhatta under sections 307 (Attempt to murder), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 279 (Rash driving) among other sections including sections 149, 152, 336 and 427.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was unsparing in his attack on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, he took to Twitter to mock the CM. He tweeted, Earlier they tied people to the fronts of jeeps & paraded them around villages to deter protestors now they just drive their jeeps right over protestors. Is this your new SOP @MehboobaMufti sahiba? Ceasefire means no guns so use jeeps?
"The gipsy was attacked - that's a fact - yes. However, it's a failure of the local police in the area to have allowed a CRPF gypsy to pass through an almost 200 strong hostile crowd," National Conference spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu tweeted, blaming the police for allowing the jeep to pass through a hostile crowd.
"Almost every single civilian casualty in Kashmir is due to continued, repeated failures at crowd control, sanitisation of encounter sites and policing blunders. It's not rocket science! You allow a CRPF gypsy to speed through a hostile crowd - didn't you know this could happen???," Mr Mattu said.