By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar: At least 29 villagers were injured when they were allegedly given severe thrashing by the army personnel – who were conducting house to house searches – triggering massive protest demonstrations at Kulpora, Chukarpora in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.
The demonstration rock the village after troops of 55 RR allegedly misbehaved with some women of the village during house to house search operations. About four persons were given severe thrashing after they objected to the remarks passed by the jawans.
The villagers turned violent and refused to cooperate with the army during the operation. They took out a strong protest demonstration and raised anti-army slogans.
A local villager told News Agency of Kashmir that as the situation went out of control army personnel started thrashing the villagers with gun butts. “Whoever came in their way was thrashed and humiliated”, Abdul Ahad, a villager said.
Villagers alleged that 25 persons received injuries in the army’s action on the protestors. Though none of them was critically injured, sources said over a dozen of them were brought to district hospital for treatment.
The protests continued in the village even after the cordon was completely lifted by the army. The protestors were demanding that the troops should be booked for passing derogatory remarks on the women and thrashing about four civilians without any justification.
Senior police officers rushed to the spot and assured action against the guilty. The protestors returned home only after receiving assurances from the police.
Police said that it has registered a case in this regard. “We have registered a case against the army soldiers on the complaints of locals,” said Hemant Lohia, a high-ranking police official.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. AK Mathur, on the other hand, denied that the civilians were given thrashing or any remarks were passed on women. The incident, he said, occurred when villagers tried to “physically stop” the soldiers from carrying out the search operation.