Ahead of Edi-ul-Fitr, the residents of Banihal town pelted stones at a CRPF vehicle, who responded by firing their guns in the air, on Thursday after a rumor spread that the vehicle had hit and crushed some pedestrians while trying to overtake vehicles on the highway.
As per reports, the shopkeepers in the market shut down their shops and along with locals gathered on the road and pelted stones at the CRPF vehicle. “The CRPF vehicle had an altercation with local sumo drivers engaged with a private contractor company in Nagbal area. A rumor spread that the CRPF vehicle had hit and crushed some pedestrians, which made the people angry and pelt stones at the vehicle,” a police official said.
The CRPF personnel, travelling in the vehicle, fired some warning shots while led to chaos as people, who had come out to shop for Eid, ran, scared and terrified, reports said. A protest was also lodged by the local shopkeepers, who alleged high handedness of security forces in the town.
Four civilians received injuries in the ensuing chaos. They were shifted to Sub-District Hospital for treatment and have been identified as Shabir Ahmed, son of Mohammad Abdullah and a resident of Karawa, Tahira Banoo, daughter to Mohammad Saleem and a resident of Sarachi, Ghulam Mohammad, son of Mohammad Hussain and a resident of Amkote, and Mubarak Ahmed Shah, a resident of Karawa.
When contacted by Greater Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police Ramban Mohan Lal clarified that due to a rumor that spread on Thursday afternoon in Banihal town, people, in fit of anger, pelted stones on the CRPF bus carrying soldiers from Valley to Jammu. “After some time, the situation was brought under control and shopkeepers opened their establishments,” he said.
Due to the protest, vehicular traffic remained suspended on the highway for several hours.