KL Report
SRINAGAR
Much to the embarrassment of the National Conference senior leader and Higher Education Minister, people forced him to leave Shahgund Hajin without attending workers meeting on Saturday.
Muhammad Akbar Lone arrived at Shahgund Hajin to attend a workers meeting that was supposed to take place at the residence of NC worker Muhammad Maqbool Ghasi. As the word about his visit spread in the area, people used public address system urging shopkeepers and traders to close down their shops and observe a complete shutdown in the area.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that as the Lone reached Shahgunds, scores of people encircled his vehicle and amid anti-NC and anti-Minister slogans did not allow him to proceed towards the venue. People demanded punishment to the ‘killers’ of Farhat Ahmed Dar who was allegedly killed in police firing last month during a protest.
As the security guards of the Minister tried to disperse the protestors, the agitated people resorted to stone-pelting and forced Muhammad Akbar Lone to retreat from the place without attending the workers meeting.
During the clashes between people and police, at least three persons were injured. People alleged that the police and CRPF personnel thrashed tow scribes Inayat Hajni and Zahoor Ahmed Bhat. “I was beaten to pulp while covering the clashes by police and CRPF personnel. Blood oozed out from my mouth and nose and I don’t know who shifted me to Srinagar for treatment,” Inayet Hajni told CNS.
Reports said that amid clashes, agitated protestors barged into the house of District president National Conference Khazar Muhammad Dar and ransacked the belongings there. People smashed the windowpanes of the house and caused damage to furniture. Eyewitnesses told CNS that agitated protestors entered the house of Muhammad Maqbool Ghasi in Bagatmohalla where the Minister was supposed to attend the meeting and spoiled the ‘wazwan’ (dishes) there, that was prepared for the Higher Education Minister.
Confirming the incident, DIG North Kashmir Ghulam Hasan Bhat told CNS that protestors stopped the Minister questioning him why he did not turn up when a youth got killed last month. He said that protestors also attacked the houses of two NC workers,” he said.
