Following the Lethpora attack on 14 February that left over 40 CRPF personnel dead, the government forces are allegedly harassing the commuters along the Srinagar-Jammu highway in South Kashmir.
Sources said heavy forces remain deployed on this major roadfor checking at several spots including Galender, Lethpora, Awantipora, Sangamand Tral-Awantipora road.
The security personnel check the passing vehicles beforeallowing them to proceed. “We have orders to conduct searches of the vehiclesand check the identity cards of those on board,” a paramilitary trooper told adriver who was carrying a patient in his vehicle.
The commuters alleged that they were regularly beingharassed and thrashed on this major road.
An eyewitness alleged that last week a medicalrepresentative was beaten up at Pampore and forced to do push ups by forcespersonnel.
“At Sangam area ofAnantnag, the forces personnel beat up a load carrier driver when he wastravelling to Srinagar,” he said.
When contacted, DIG South Kashmir Atul Kumar Goel told Greater Kashmir that the “restrictions” are in place on the highway due to recent deadly attack on the forces. “However, if anybody is being harassed or thrashed on the highway he should come with a complaint to the nearest police station or approach me directly,” he said.
Irfan Amin Malik