Srinagar, Aug 21: In a throwback to ’90s, police and paramilitary CRPF on Saturday cracked down on a Bemina colony here on the city outskirts and rounded up 42 people including a 7-year old boy, an octogenarian and the local Imam, besides misbehaving with women.
The government forces resorted to aerial firing and fired several teargas canisters to disperse people including women who took to roads and blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway, demanding release of the arrestees.
Locals said around 2 pm large contingent of police and CRPF arrived in the Nundreshi Colony-Sector B. “Without making any announcement they barged into the houses, made searches and ordered men and children to assemble in the compound of the local Masjid,” said one Touseef Ahmad who along with some elders was preparing the list of those arrested by police.
“After people assembled on the spot,” said Touseef, “They whisked away at least 42 persons. People were either busy in their domestic work or returning from prayers when the forces arrived.”
The arrestees included Bashir Ahmad Lone, 50, and his father Habibulla, an octogenarian. “Actually they were looking for my 7-year old brother Amir. But when they couldn’t find him, police rounded up my ailing father and grandfather,” said Zahid, brother of Amir.
Family of Hafeeza putting up in a rented accommodation in the area had received some guests from Sopur a few days back. But three of the guests were also rounded up by police, she said. “My husband was also picked up. He was beaten ruthlessly.”
Meraj-ud-din Misgar, whose brother Mukthar Ahmad is one of the victims, said there were no protests in the area. “The arrests by police are another tactic to harass people. My brother is innocent. He was picked up from home,” the angry looking Meraj said. Police also arrested the local Imam, Mashooq Ahmad, said Meraj. “He was picked up from Masjid after a search by police and CRPF at his room,” Meraj said. Locals said as police was taking away the arrested persons, some of them including women tried to persuade the Station House Officer and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer to leave them.
“However, policemen baton-charged people, fired tear smoke canisters and resorted to aerial firing to disperse them. They misbehaved with women,” eyewitnesses said.
Eyewitnesses also saw policemen even snatching the scarves of the women.
As police and CRPF left the spot, people including women and children took to roads. They staged a massive protest demonstration, blocked the highway, demanding release of the arrestees.
“We will not move from the road till our people are released,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, adding they had decided to offer the remaining prayers of the day on the road.
“How can we leave? They whisked away even our guests. We will not allow traffic movement,” said Hafeeza, asking people to assemble on the road.
“Don’t worry sister. We are with you. We will not give up,” Feroz consoled her.
The incident was a flashback of ’90s when BSF and police would lay cordon around an area and whisk away people. The protests were going on when the last reports came in.
Talking to Greater Kashmir the Superintendent of Police City (South), Muhammad Irshad, said some of the “miscreants” from the locality used to block the highway during late hours, hampering the traffic movement and then damage the window panes of the vehicles.
“We picked up some suspects and after identification all of them were released except nine who were found to be involved in trouble-making,” he said. The residents have been accusing an official of the Police Post Bemina of unleashing a ‘reign of terror’ in the area, seeking his immediate transfer.
The aggrieved residents told Greater Kashmir that the “former gunman turned police official” had turned the peoples life miserable.
They residents accused the officer of misbehaving with woman.
PARVAIZ RESHI adds from Ganderbal: As the news about the misbehavior of policemen with women in Bemina spread in Ganderbal, night protests broke out in Saloora, Wanipora and the adjoining villages.
Witnesses said after the evening prayers people assembled outside the Masjids of the area and chanted pro-freedom and anti-police slogans.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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