KL Report
SRINAGAR
Curfew continued for the 11th consecutive day in Shopian town on Tuesday, following clashes after the killing of five persons in CRPF firing on September 7. Police and paramilitary CRPF men, wearing riot gears and armed with sophisticated weapons, were deployed in Shopian, and other adjoining villages to foil any attempts of protests by locals, reports said.
“Eye witness told KNS that all the entry and exit points leading to Shopian town and towards the residential areas were completely sealed. Even though there has been no incident of violence in last three days, the authorities have been reluctant in easing the restrictions,” said residents of Shopian town.
They said police and CRPF had erected barricades and bunkers at many places and people were not allowed to venture out.
The residents of Shopian alleged that CRPF men went berserk and barged into several houses, ransacking household goods and thrashed the inmates. “Shops, schools, offices and Petrol outlets remained closed while traffic was off the roads,” reports said. “Heavy deployment of police and CRPF was put in place in the town.
“Theirs is a regular phenomenon to harass the locals since 2010. In the past they have been involved in killing of civilians,” said a local resident. “Anytime an incident takes place they barge into the houses and resort to thrashing of inmates and ransacking of locals.”local resident told KNS.
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat when contacted told KNS, “Curfew remained enforced on Tuesday to stop any untoward incident”. He said, however, district administration is facilitating the movement of essential commodities, medicines and baby food.
“We are facilitating the movement of patients to hospitals and even those who need to buy essentials and baby food,” said Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat.
He said that there people can contact the administration on any time through helpline numbers in case of any grievance.
Patently Curfew was imposed in Shopian, after CRPF personnel of 14 Battalion in Gagran area shot dead 4 people, including 3 civilians, on September 7 and injured another. While the locals have been maintaining that the fourth slain person was a non-local labourer, CRPF said he was a Lashkar operative. Following the killings, another civilian was shot dead allegedly by CRPF personnel of the same camp on September 11.
District administration of Shopian has said that the admit cards of candidates appearing in examinations of State Services Selection Recruitment Board was treated as curfew passes. “Police and security forces were instructed to treat admit cards of the candidates and identity cards of the examination staff as curfew passes,” an official said.
Meanwhile Amid curfew that is continuing for the past 10 days, a three member government team including Haj and Auqaf Minister Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, Parliamentary and law affairs minister Saifulla Mir and provisional president of National conference Nasir Aslam Wani reached Shopian town Tuesday and held detailed discussions with District administration and senior citizens. “The team reached here and held a long meeting with District administration and senior citizens,” govt official said
