Sonamarag: Clashes erupted between stranded passengers and police in Sonamarag on Thursday after passengers and drivers staged a protest against the traffic authorities alleging that despite clear road, they are not being allowed to cross Zojilla pass to reach to Kargil. The protestors, mostly truck drivers alleged that their trucks are loaded with perishable goods which could spoil within days.
Eyewitnesses that scores of truck drivers and passengers took to roads in Sonamarag and amid anti-government slogans pelted stones on the police. Police bursted tear-smoke shells that resulted in the injury of one protestor who was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Khosa from Safapora Ganderbal. Reports said that when protestors did not budge and continued to pelt stones, the policemen resorted to aerial firing that created panic in the tourist resort.
During the violent clashes at least 10 policemen were injured whom a police official identified as Head Constable Ghulam Nabi, Constables, Showkat Magray, Nazir Ahmed, Hilal Ahmed, Manzoor Ahmed, Jahangir Ahmed, Tariq Ahmed and Ashiq Ahmed.
Station House Officer Sonamarag, Irfan Ahmed that protestors resorted to heavy stone-pelting while police used tear-smoke shells to disperse them. The protestors wanted that their vehicles be allowed to cross Zojilla pass while the authorities have already declared road unsafe for travelling due to inclement weather, he said. Police arrested at least 8 protestors for resorting to violence and registered a formal case against them.
At least 500 vehicles are stranded in Sonamarag from past many days. The road was thrown open for a single day, however it was immediately closed down for traffic after fresh snowfall. If road is unsafe then how come authorities allow Army convoys to ply on the road, a truck driver from Srinagar adding that they will incur huge losses if no allowed to ply on the road.
Passengers alleged that police thrashed even women passengers and smashed the windowpanes of scores of stranded vehicles, a charge refuted by police.
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmed Khan that all the protestors arrived at Sonamarag after 8 am while they allow traffic from 5 to 8 am only. The road is unsafe for travelling. We allow traffic during wee hours only. As the day progresses there is always an increase in the temperature, which creates avalanche threat. We appeal all the passengers to report at Sonamarag till 8 in the morning and they will be allowed to pass through the road, he said.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
