By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Baramulla: As the ongoing unrest in Kashmir completes its 100th day, thousands of protesters continue to be put inside the jails, arrested during night raids.
The security forces in Baramulla district of north Kashmir in the wee hours of Monday morning took an unprecedented decision to crackdown on the historic old town to arrest the protestors.
As per the locals, this kind of crackdown is the first of its kind to take place in the old town of Baramulla city.
“Such kind of crackdowns used to happen when militancy was at its peak….every lane and by lane was filled with security personnel,” said a local who wished not to be named.
The siege was laid down early at 4 am when most of the habitants were in deep sleep. As per the inputs available with TwoCirlces.net from locals, more than one thousands security force personnel raided the locality leaving people with no time to resist the massive crackdown.
The old town area of Baramulla consists of Ganaihamam, Qazi Hamam, Jamia Mohallah, Satidum colony, Azad Gunj and few others. The old town is connected to the uptown via three bridge built upon river Jhelum. The uptown area is relatively much calmer as most of the people here are involved in white-collar jobs.
As per the eyewitness, who wished not to be named as he fears reprisal by security forces said the forces entered into the old town localities early on Monday early morning, with loudspeakers announcing crackdown.
“The men were asked to gather in a ground. There was house to house search. The people were asked to take off the clothes. Those who were found to be with pellet shots and any type of bruises were bundled into the vehicles,” said the eyewitness.
The forces initially used to avoid deploying forces into the old town areas considering its volatile atmosphere and blocking only bridges connecting old town to up town areas. The raid is seen as a means to curb the ongoing series of protests in north Kashmir since last more than three months.
According to a report published in Valley based newspaper Greater Kashmir, 35 persons have been arrests in the 12 hour long massive crackdown.
Various attempt to get version of SSP Baramulla, Imtiaz Hussain Mir turned futile as his office didn’t respond to the repeated calls.
More than 7,000 people have been arrested in Kashmir besides booking more than 400 under ‘lawless’ Public Safety Act to curb and put an end to the anti-India protests in Kashmir.