Erring driver arrested; Army regrets, pledges cash relief
SRINAGAR: Tension gripped the city Wednesday when an over speeding army truck rammed into a Chevrolet’s Tavera cab on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway, killing at least seven passengers on board. Three of the passengers including a pregnant woman died on spot and four others succumbed at the hospital.
The deadly accident ignited protests in the area and youth threw stones at the police and army soldiers who had reached the spot. The army allegedly resorted to firing after the locals took to the highway and attempted to block it. Eyewitnesses said the grisly sight of dead bodies inside the cab (JK01-1464), they got furious and pounced upon the army driver Krishan Kumar who was driving the vehicle, actually a recovery van that tows the faulty vehicles. In a bid to save their driver from the wrath of local protestors, army personnel from 51 RR resorted to intense aerial firing, CNS reported. It was only after the bullet shots fired by Army in air that protestors left the erring army driver, the agency quoted an eyewitness as said.
Police identified the dead as Muhammad Rafiq Untoo resident of Dugliteng, Baramulla, Nazir Ahmad Mir resident of Mamkak, Sopore, Peer Zada Mohammad Syed resident of Sopore, Muhammad Ramzan Mir resident of Sopore, Ghulam Nabi Dar resident of Krankshivan, Sopore, Ghulam Hassan Bhat resident of Dangerpora Baramulla and Zarefa wife of Ashiq Hussain resident of Dever Pattan. Sources said that Zarefa was pregnant and was expecting a baby next month. The two injured persons Ashiq Hussain Malik resident of Dever Pattan and Sheikh Zahid resident of Sopore were shifted to the hospital for treatment.
Reports said that soon after the army recovery van (013854w) collided with the passenger vehicle, locals in large numbers cornered the spot of accident while the army personnel fled from the spot and stayed away from the angry crowd. It was only after people thrashed army driver, that his colleagues who had taken positions far away from the spot resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protestors. Top police officials including SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar rushed to the spot. There was complete chaos and confusion. The clashes that erupted between government forces and locals disrupted traffic for hours. Police fired tear-smoke shells to disperse the angry protestors. The clashes according to reports continued for hours. Police imposed restrictions to diffuse the situation.
Station House Officer Parimpora Muhammad Ayoub said that police has already registered a case in this regard. We have arrested the army driver Krishan Singh and he is in our lockup, he said adding that army vehicle has also been seized.
He further said that a case vide FIR number 139/2014 under section 279, 337, 304 A RPC has been registered in Police Station Parimpora and investigation into the matter has been taken up.
Meanwhile, in North Kashmirs Sopora town people observed a complete shutdown in wake of the accident as most of the victims belonged to the town. Large number of youth assembled on roads and fought pitched battles with government forces. Eyewitnesses further that as the bodies of victims were taken to their native areas, youth in large numbers amid anti-India and anti-army slogans resorted to stone-pelting and targeted policemen deployed on roads.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference G Syed Ali Geelani issued a statement appealing people to observe complete shutdown on Thursday, He also asked people to stage peaceful protests on Friday. Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leader Shabir Ahmad Shah has also called for shutdown tomorrow. According to a statement he also called for valley-wide protests on Friday after prayers against the Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-based 15 Corps headquarters in a statement regretted the unfortunate loss of lives and conveyed deepest condolences to the families. The accident is under investigation and all possible assistance will be provided to the Police in their inquiry.”
Human rights groups here say 868 people have died in road accidents involving army and police vehicles ever since the armed uprising broke out in 1989.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his twitter response says, ” The accident happened with an army truck but it was an accident, not a deliberate action. I hope better sense & cooler heads prevail???Only in Kashmir can a tragic accident be exploited by ordering a two-day shutdown and protests after Friday prayers. Height of exploiting pain.”
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