Shopian: Residents of twin villages in South Kashmirs Shopian district were seen nursing their wounds Tuesday after Government forces allegedly let loose a reign of terror during the preceding night in order to punish villagers for bursting crackers on Pakistani cricket teams win against Sri Lanka.
According to locals from Vehil village of Shopian district shortly after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in Champions Trophy quarter finals on Monday night, some cricket crazy youth burst fire crackers to celebrate the Pakistani victory.
The celebrations didnt last for long as the army men from the nearby Chowdary Gund camp rushed to the village and resorted to aerial firing. They not only fired bullets in air but thrashed anyone who came their way. These unbridled personnel barged into houses and shops, caused extensive damage to properties and even beat people black and blue, said an elderly man from the village.
Villagers said that the forces ransacked shops and smashed the windowpanes of houses. Many shopkeepers alleged that their merchandise was missing following the raid.
The raid sparked spontaneous protests in the area when people in large numbers came out of their homes chanting anti-India and pro-azadi slogans.
Some of our children burst crackers which angered the forces men and they wreaked havoc here, said the locals.
This is not the first time that Kashmiri people have celebrated the victory of Pakistani cricket team. This has happened in the past and this will happen in future too. You cant crush the sentiments through force. This only depicts the frustration of those who dont understand the psyche of people of Kashmir, CNS news agency quoting a shopkeeper reported.
A top police officer said that they were investigating the matter.
In another such incident at Turkwangam village of the same district several people were wounded when government forces allegedly barged into the houses and beat up residents on Monday night.
The forces personnel beat up the inmates and vandalized property after forcing their way into dozens of houses in Turkawangam village at around 11:30 Monday night. For around next two hours, they went on a rampage in the village moving from one house to another, the CNS report said.
According to locals, the forces personnel raided the village during nocturnal hours and resorted to vandalism. They said that the forces personnel damaged whatever came in their way from parked vehicles to residential houses.
They also beat inmates which resulted in injuries to 25 persons, some of whom were referred to Srinagar for treatment, reports said.
The action was probably to avenge the stone-pelting incident that had occurred during the day in the area, said a local.
In another incident, the government forces were accused of vandalism by residents of Kareemabad village of Pulwama district. The residents said that the forces raided the village in night hours and damaged the vehicles. They further said that the banner size posters and hoardings of slain militants near local martyrs graveyard were also torn apart by forces men.
Srinagar based Defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia while refuting the allegations said that their soldiers are not involved in any ransacking or manhandling incident. Our troopers are not involved in whatsoever has happened in Vehil and Turkawangam villages, he said.
(With inputs from the CNS)
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