Pahalgam, June 30: At least 15 Sumo drivers were injured, three of them critically, when the paramilitary CRPF men beat them up in Chandanwari area of this south Kashmir tourist resort. About 70 Sumo vehicles were also damaged by the CRPF men, locals alleged.
 “The CRPF men prevented the local Sumo drivers ferrying Yatris to park their vehicles in the Chandanwari stand,” said Ghulam Nabi, President Taxi Stand Pahalgam.
 He said that as they refused to follow their diktat huge contingent of paramilitary forces reached the spot and mercilessly beat up the drivers injuring fifteen of them.
 The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. Some of the critically injured drivers who were identified as Tariq Hussain Wagay, Abid Hussain Magray and Shabir Hussain Wani are undergoing treatment in District hospital,  Islamabad (Anantnag).
 “The CRPF men pounced on us, dragged us and beat up with gun butts and batons,” said the injured drivers.
 They said that about seventy vehicles were damaged by the forces by hurling rocks on them.
 “The parking place meant for the Sumos and Tata Mini buses has been occupied by the Shrine Board authorities and only those bearing Shrine Board Identity card are allowed to proceed further while the others are forced to return without ferrying the Yatris back to Pahalgam,” said the Sumo drivers.
 They said that after performing the pilgrimage the Yatris are ferried mostly in the vehicles of paramilitary forces or government buses.
 As the word about the incident spread in Pahalgam shopkeepers downed their shutters and traffic went off the roads. The locals also held a protest demonstration and demanded stringent action against the erring  CRPF men.
 “ We should be allowed to park our vehicles in Chandanwari parking stand,” said Sumo drivers adding that a case should be registered against the CRPF persons.
 An official spokesman said that soon after the incident the Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad ( Anantnag) Farooq Ahmad Shah and SSP rushed to the spot and convened meeting with all the concerned following which the contingent of CRPF posted there was removed with immediate effect.
 “ We have sorted out the matter and Yatra is going on smoothly,” the Deputy Commissioner told Greater Kashmir. 

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST