Kupwara, Aug 23: With curfew continuing at Trehgam township of district Kupwara for 10th day running today, people alleged that CRPF and police were using curfew and restrictions as a fear tactic and not allowing them to fetch drinking water from local springs and other essentials like medicines and milk.
“Forces are not allowing the residents to fetch water from Trehgam spring which is the only source of drinking water for scores of hamlets of Trehgam like Mirpora, Malikpora, Shah Mohalla, Muqdumpora, Bunpora and Muqbulabad,” said the residents.
 “The  town has been put under strict restrictions and curfew remains in force for the last 10 days continuously creating an acute  shortage of essentials like rice, baby milk, groceries, vegetables, medicines and cooking gas which has lead to a humanitarian crisis” they added.
 Residents told Greater Kashmir that they were not allowed to offer prayers in the Jamia Masjid of Trehgam.
 “We have been caged in our homes. Not to speak of fetching water and medicines they don’t even allow us to peep out of windows. CRPF men beat up women and children who step out of their homes. During the late hours CRPF personnel resort to stone pelting on houses. The vehicle which was carrying cooking gas was stopped and the driver beaten near Trehgam gate by police and returned.”
 Due to continuous curfew and strict restrictions, residents don’t have access to ration store, hospital or local medical shops.
 The locals are facing tough times as they can’t get vegetables and other essential food items in the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.
 Rafiqa Begum and Naseema of Jamia Qadeem Mohalla have given birth to children during last two days in their homes. “We were not able to take the ladies to nearby hospital for delivery due to curfew and restrictions. Now we directly depend on market for the daily needs of feeding mothers. We can’t feed the women properly,” said Tanveer Ahmad.
 Several shopkeepers including Habibullah Malik, Ghulam Rasool Shah, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, Altaf Ahmad Malik and pharmacists Aijaz Ahmad Malik and Muhammad Ashraf Malik were beaten by CRPF and their stocks thrown out of their shops yesterday during a two-hour deal in curfew, locals said.
 “I was thrashed thrice by the forces for offering Azan and Sehri calls,” local Seharkhan, Muhammad Jamal said. He said ever since curfew was imposed in the area the masjids continue to remain locked.
 Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Muhammad Shafi Rather told Greater Kashmir that curfew in the town was relaxed on Saturday. “However some youth blocked the main road raising protests forcing authorities to re-impose it. We are soon going to relax the curfew. We will lift the restrictions permanently if the people cooperate with us and not turn violent,” he said.
 Curfew was imposed in the town on August 13 when 11-year old student Mudasir Ahmad Zargar was killed by CRPF when it resorted to firing on a procession of Nimazees.
 The locals alleged that troopers have also imposed night curfew in the area.
 “We are not allowed to venture out in night time. They have made our lives miserable by keeping us imprisoned in homes. They cannot break our resolve by these tactics,” the residents said, adding that attendants were not being allowed to accompany patients to hospital.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST