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Firing in air, lathi-charge; protests at Baltal
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/5/2013 1:05:02 AM
Pilgrimage disrupted for a while, several injured
SRINAGAR, july 4: Police and CRPF today fired in air , burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge to disperse a protest demonstration at Balatal. Several persons were injured in the clashes.
The protests and the subsequent police action disrupted the Amarnath Yatra for some time. The protestor allegedly set ablaze a canteen of CRPF and also resorted to stone pelting, police said.
The protests started after a local driver Ghulam Nabi Lone was severely beaten by CRPF personnel. He was critically injured and hospitalised.
The local people alleged that the driver was beaten on the complaint of some pilgrims. Reports said Ghulam Nabi Lone was carrying some pilgrims in his Sumo. His vehicle was followed by a van, in which some local people were traveling. The pilgrims and the local passengers exchanged hot words on some issue. When the Sumo reached the first check post at Baltal, its passengers complained against the driver to CRPF.
The CRPF men allegedly ruthlessly beat the driver. He was bleeding and removed to local hospital in a critical condition. The doctors referred him to SKIMS Soura for further treatment where his condition continues to be critical.
The local people including shopkeepers and ponywallas held strong protest demonstrations. Police fired several rounds in air, burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge. The protestors pelted stones and also torched a CRPF canteen. Several persons including some yatris were also injured. Protests were held at some other places also
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a statement said, “In an altercation between a Sumo driver and security force personnel at Baltal, the Sumo driver identified as Ghulam Nabi Lone of Kangan got injured. After this incident, some miscreants pelted stones on deployment over there. The situation was brought under control. The Sumo driver was shifted to hospital where he is stable.”