Srinagar
Soon after a thrashing incident was reported from Harnag area of Islamabad, another sumo driver was allegedly thrashed by an army at Kokernag village of Islamabad district on Wednesday.
An official said that another sumo driver identified as Arif Hussain Mir, a resident of Kokernag was beaten up by army’s 19 RR in Kokernag, as army claims the said driver was trying to overtake their convoy.
In the incident, Mir has sustained minor injuries; however, he was shifted to Sub-District Hospital Kokernag for the treatment where he is said to be stable now.
“We are on spot fetching details, and we can give you the details once we are done with it,” a senior police officer told Kashmir Life over phone.
Earlier, clashes broke out between the locals and government forces after army personnel allegedly thrash a local driver at Srinagar-Jammu highway in Hernag area of the district.
A sumo driver identified as Heemo, from Kulgam district, bearing a vehicle registration number JK03 7476 was on way at Srinagar-Jammu Highway in Hernag, when he was allegedly beaten up by the Ist RR army personnel, resulting into his head injuries. The driver was soon hospitalized.
Soon after the incident the locals of the area took the streets and protested against the alleged harassment. The youth pelted government forces with stones and forces retaliated by firing tear gas smoke shells to disperse them. The protests led to the closure of traffic movement for hours at Srinagar-Jammu highway. However, the road is clear for the traffic movement now.
If and when people of Kashmir can pelt stones or rain bullets, it hardly matters if one Kashmiri driver is beaten as and when he tries to overtake the convoy for an unknown reason.