Srinagar, Aug 6: Two civilians were critically wounded, when army beat up the villagers without any provocation at Ladoora Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Varmul district on Friday.
 Eyewitnesses’ told Greater Kashmir that hundreds of people from Ladoora, Nadihal, Achabal and adjoining villages marched towards Watergam on the chalo call given by the locals.
 After the march ended peacefully and people returned troopers of 32-RR barged into residential houses and thrashed up inmates.
 “Troopers barged into the shop of one Riyaz Ahmed and dragged him out. They beat him to pulp.  When another youth Khursheed tried to rescue him troopers pounced upon him and thrashed him severely,” they said, adding that both of them received multiple injuries.
 Both were shifted to district hospital Varmul, from where doctors referred Riyaz Ahmed to SKIMS Soura, where his condition was stated to be critical.
 As the word about the incident spread hundreds of people, including men, women and children,  took to the streets and staged massive protests demanding action against the erring troopers.
 When contacted army’s Srinagar based spokesman Lt Col J S Brar denied that troopers had beaten the civilians.
 However, Minister of state for Health, Javed Ahmed Dar, who is also the local MLA, acknowledged that Army had thrashed two civilians in his native village. “I have taken up matter with the police,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST