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Protests in Handwara over excesses

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/16/2012 12:45:11 AM

Army thrashes civilians without provocation

KUPWARA, July 15 (KNS): People in Rajwar area of Handwara staged protest demonstrations against Army today after they allegedly beat up civilians without any provocation.
Locals said that at around 1.30 PM army men belonging to Rani Post of 21 RR Army camp at Zachaldara Rajwar caught and beat up several youth who were working in fields and grazing their cattle. “Army men swooped on us and beat us ruthlessly, without any provocation,” said one of the youth.
Three teenage boys Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Arif Khan and Manzoor Ahmad have allegedly been severely beaten. “They were grazing cattle when the Army men thrashed, dragged and beat them ruthlessly. We had to hospitalize them,” said the locals. 
The incident triggered protests by people who blocked Handwara-Wader road hours. They demanded punishment to erring Army men and removal of the Army camp from the civilian location.
SDPO Handwara Ifroz Ahmad rushed to the spot and with the help of Police Chowki Zachaldara, pacified the agitating people after which traffic was restored on the important road, sources said. The police officer assured people that their grievance and demands will be conveyed to the government.
Meanwhile, Army has denied the allegations saying it did not beat any youth. “There was an altercation between troopers and local youth after the youth were asked to stay clear of army compound as mines could be laid there”, said Brigadier A. Arun of Sector 7 Rashtiry Rifles. “However the allegations of beating up the youth are baseless”, he added.
Meanwhile, a top police officer in Handwara on conditions of anonymity revealed to KNS that the civil administration of Handwara and Kupwara did not cooperate with police after the incidents like that of Zachaldara today. “We pacified the protesting civilians toady in Zachaldara today, and it is surprising that not a  single civil officer visited the spot,” he said adding police’s job is to help civil administration in restoring law and order while as it is job of administration to reach out to people and listen to them. “There was a firing incident in Rajwar are last week and few encounters between security forces and militants, and now that incident at Zachaldara. But the civil administration plays ostrich and does not co-operate with police to help bring situation under control. This is precisely what happened in Zachaldara today,” the top police officer said.