SRINAGAR: Clashes erupted in Srinagar’s HMT area on the eve of local youth’s death anniversary.
Reports said that men in uniform fired scores of shells to break protests by the local populace.
A youth, Gowhar Nazir Dar (22), was killed in forces action on November 07, 2015 in Zainakote when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had just concluded his Kashmir visit during which he announced Rs 80000 economic package for J&K.
A magisterial probe was ordered in the youth’s killing, however, its findings are yet to be made public.
Marking the first death anniversary of Gowhar, local sources said, “a program was scheduled to be held today in the area, however, hundreds of forces personnel were deployed in the area to thwart any such program.”
“People held protests and forces fired scores of shells to disperse the protestors triggering clashes,” sources said. They added that on last Friday, forces went berserk in the damaging the private property.
Gowhar Nazir Dar, a Computer Science Engineering student at SSM College of Engineering and Technology was killed allegedly by CRPF in Zainakote area in outskirts of Srinagar city on November 07, 2015.
Following his Gowhar’s death, the MLA concerned, Sheikh Noor Mohammad, had written to J&K Home department, which is headed by CM, to remove a CRPF camp housed in HMT watch factory. Sheikh represents Batamaloo in J&K Legislature.
The family and locals of HMT and Zainakote had alleged that forces personnel from the same camp were involved in the killing of Gowhar.
“When Gowhar was killed, locals of the area approached me demanding removal of the CRPF cam and we wrote a letter to state Home department that there is no need of the camp in the area,” MLA Batamaloo, Sheikh Noor Muhammad, had told earlier.
“There is a cricket ground next to the CRPF camp and many a times situation gets bad between CRPF men and youth,” he said.
Father of the slain youth, Nazir Ahmad Dar, too had made similar demand.
“Let the government order removal of the camp from the factory,” Nazir Ahmad Dar, Gowhar’s father had told New Delhi based The Citizen, “I will not pursue the case against the culprits. This way, at least Gowhar’s martyrdom will bear some fruit and no innocent will become target of these murderers.” However, the camp is yet to be removed from the area.
Father of Gowhar said, “additional Deputy Commissioner Nazir Ahmed Baba was appointed inquiry officer. We produced 18 witnesses before the inquiry committee who all held CRPF guilty of killing my son.”
The MLA had supported his argument saying that the watch factory has become defunct now.
“HMT factory is defunct now and many times Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Highway is affected due to bad situation in Zainakote area,” Noor Mohammad said. “We are waiting response from the home department.”
Former PDP central Kashmir MP, Tariq Hamid Karra and independent lawmaker, Er Rashid, too had demanded immediate removal of the camp.
The MLA further informed, “state government would have taken possession of the land under HMT watch factory but the union government wants that state government should also take possession of buildings constructed on it which is yet to be decided.” “That is why it has been delayed.”
Pertinently, Union government has already given nod to hand over 300 Kanal HMT land to the state administration and has one built-up area and residential quarters.
The HMT watch factory was set up in 1971 at Zainakote and subsequently the factory has become defunct.
The alma mater of Gowhar – SSM College of Engineering – also established a scholarship: ‘Shaheed Gowhar Nazir’, which will be given to an orphan student every year on the day of his killing.
On November 10, 2016 when Gowhar’s classmates were on way to his Mustafabad Zainakote home, forces tear gassed the march at Parihaspora Pattan and disallowed them to reach their slain friend’s home.
On Monday, when MLA Batamaloo was asked what progress on his letter was made, he said, “the prevailing situation derailed the process (of camp removal).”
However, he said, “the case has moved to IGP office from Home department and once situation improves, I will take it up.”
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