Cement Transportation Row: Locals accuse police of thrashing peaceful protesters

Pulwama,: Locals from Khrew Pampore Saturday accused police of using unnecessary force to harass peaceful protesters. They alleged that police ransacked houses, dragged people out from their houses and charged them with canes resulting in the injuries of scores of innocent people.

The locals told CNS that two persons thrashed by police were shifted to New Delhi for advanced treatment. Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh and Gowhar Ali Sheikh had been sent to New Delhi hospital for treatment. One of them has received serious injury in his eye. Another youth Fayaz Ahmed Sheikh has been shifted to SMHS hospital, the locals said.

We have been protesting from past month while authorities didnt listen to us. We have purchased trucks on finance with a hope to earn living by transporting cement from nearby cement factories, but he cement factory owners after patronizing another truck union are persuading government to use SRTC vehicles for the transportation of cement. Our protest was peaceful, but on Friday evening, a large contingent of police arrived in the area and started beating people including women, the locals said adding that men in uniform caused heavy damages to their trucks as well.

Those policemen smashed the windowpanes of our houses. They dragged youth out from the houses and arrested them. Some of the people were ruthlessly beaten up. A woman has received 4 stitches on her forehead, the locals said adding that police restricted movement of people in the area on Saturday.

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Terming the allegations baseless, a police official told CNS that there are some anti-peace elements who dont want free flow of transportation of cement from the factories. (CNS)

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