Tral: Nocturnal raids conducted by government forces to nab alleged stone-pelters according to people will only ‘add fuel to the fire’ while people mostly in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district have been erecting barricades and hurdles to stop police entry into the localities.
According to the eyewitnesses, the situation in many hamlets of Kulgam district turned ugly on Friday night when people in thousands hit to roads during the dead of the night and pelted stones on the government forces who had emerged in villages like Khrewan, Ganjipora and Malapora for raids.
“At least 11 youth were picked up by forces during these night raids while a youth Showkat Ahmed Bhat was thrashed and hit with gun butts after he made an announcement from a local mosque asking people to hit to roads against these raids,” said a local from Malapora Kulgam said.
Police reportedly resorted to tear-smoke shelling to keep protesters at bay. “The atmosphere was tense. Even women pelted stones on Police and CRPF. It was hell like situation here,” villagers said.
Pertinently, Opposition parties recently during a meeting had urged upon the government to stop nocturnal raids. The nocturnal raids according to these parties will not only add fuel to the fire but will deteriorate the situation.
Reports have been pouring from North, South and Central Kashmir about the night raids. A caller from Tangmarg said that government forces created havoc in the locality during a raid.
Reports said that at least five people including two girls were injured after people confronted government forces during a raid at Sehpora Dooru village. People from Nopora, Kreer and Bragam took to roads and attacked government forces with stones.
“Such night raids will add only fuel to the fire. I don’t think government is serious in normalizing the situation here,” said a headman of the village.
A police official said that stone-pelters have to face the music and they can’t escape from the clutches of law.
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