Srinagar, July 15: Accusing Special Operation Group (SOG) of Police camping at Kadipora Islamabad of harassing the locals, the residents in this South Kashmir town Thursday staged protests followed by a sit-in demanding the shifting of the camp.
The residents threatened mass migration in case their demand was not met. Earlier in the morning men, women and children organized a sit-in outside the camp and shouted slogans against the SOG.
They accused the SOG men of intimidating the residents, especially the women.
 Residents said they feel insecure in the presence of SOG camp in the area and are afraid to venture out of their houses as soon as the dusk approaches.
 “Enough is enough now and we will continue with our protest till the SOG camp is shifted from this place,” said a group of youth adding that they can tolerate every thing but the attack on the chastity of their mothers and sisters.
 Pertinently, the camp locally called the Ikhwan camp along with the other one at Janglat Mandi used to house counterinsurgent group, Ikhwan from the year 1995 to 2002.
 In 2002 the IKhwanis were merged into SOG but the camp continued to operate in the name of SOG men.
 The protests today continued throughout the day and later senior officials from police and district administration reached the spot and pacified the protesters by assuring them of action against the erring SOG men. However, the local Masjid Committees of Kadipora after presenting a memorandum to the district administration vowed to continue with the protests till the camp was shifted from the area. “If our demand is not met we will go for mass migration,” said the members of the Masjid committees of Kadipora area.
 When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner, J P Singh, assured that he would remove the camp by Monday.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST