SRINAGAR: Police have launched crackdown on youth allegedly involved in protests that erupted across Kashmir valley following Gool desecration and subsequent killings by the police and BSF.
A report by local news agency, CNS, quoting an unnamed top police official said that “The police was analyzing the video footages and soon a drive would be started to nab the who were involved in stone pelting on security forces in the Old City areas of Srinagar”.
Police is using video footage and photographs taken by undercover cops for arresting the youth. Police have so far arrested few youth and are hunting for more, the police official said adding that list of wanted youth have been prepared and soon drive to hunt them would be started.
The police official said that they are conducting night raids in old Srinagar areas including Nowhatta, Khanyar and adjoining areas to pick up the youth involved in stone-pelting incidents.
Meanwhile, police during nocturnal raids arrested at least 19 youth from Nowshera area of Srinagar. People alleged that police committed excesses during nocturnal raids and beat inmates. However police while confirming the nocturnal raids said that it arrested only five persons.
The arrested persons have been identified as Bashir Ahmed Mir, Rayees Ahmed Bhat, Nazir Ahmed Hazari, Abdul Rashid Beigh, Gulzar Ahmed Khan, Altaf Ahmed Rather, Haji Abdul Rashid Beigh, Adil Shiekh, Jan Mohammad Beigh, Basit Ahmed Wani, Manzoor Ahmed Rather, Ajaz Ahmed Shiekh, Zahoor Ahmed Khan and Hilal Ahmed Khan.
Residents said that police arrested three brothers Jan Mohammad, Ashiq Hussain and Raja Mohammad Sons of late Assadullah from a single house. The arrested include a 55 years old man known as Guga, son of Mohammad Amin Rather as well.
Eyewitnesses said that during nocturnal raids police used tear smoke shells to quell the resistance by the families of those arrested. We resisted the arrest of 55 years old man but the police without warning used tear smoke shells inside the house which speak volumes about tyranny of police, one of the residents said.
Locals from Khwaja Pora,Mukdam Pora and Kagazgari Mohalla in Nowshera said that they could not sleep whole night due to the nocturnal raids conducted by the police.
Complete shutdown was observed in Nowshera area against the police excesses and random arrests of youth.
Meanwhile, police during nocturnal raids arrested scores of youth from Chanapora, Hyderpora, Mehjoor Nagar and Lasjan area of uptown Srinagar.
Abdul Rouf Bhat, a senior leader of opposition PDP said that dozens of helpless families approached him and blamed police for the arrest of youth in different parts of Srinagar city. If police wants to arrest anyone then it should arrest BSF personnel who killed four innocent Muslims in Gool town of Ramban. Youth have right to express resentment and protest but it is irony that voice is being muzzled by using repressive measures, he alleged.
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