Home
Army officer thrashed for filming power protests in Kupwara
Published on
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
8:58 pm
//
Top Stories
Srinagar: An Army officer was roughed up
by angry protesters on Tuesday in the frontier Kupwara district after
he tried to arrest a youth, who objected to the filming of the anti-Power
Development Department (PDD) demonstration by the army.
Reports reaching GNS said that hundreds of residents of
Peer Mohalla, Anderhama, Drugmulla, Dawood colony, Muqam-e Shahwali, Gund and
adjoining areas this morning assembled at Fakirpora and staged anti-PDD
demonstrations. Chanting slogans, the protesters alleged that the department
has failed to restore electricity supply in the areas after the heavy snowfall
last week. Some protesters alleged that the transformer damaged around a month
ago in Dawood Colony has not been repaired till date. The protesters blocked
Kupwara-Srinagar highway demanding immediate restoration of the power supply.
As the protests were going on, an army convoy passed
through the area. An army major identified as D K Singh filmed the protests and
asked the protesters to pave way for the convoy.
“However, a youth confronted the officer and objected to
the filming of the protest. He also refused to allow the army convoy to pass.
Infuriated, the army officer grabbed the youth by collar and tried to whisk him
away. However, the protesters hurled fire pots on the officer and thrashed him
to the pulp,” Gulzar Ahmad, an eyewitness said.
He said a police team led by SHO, Kupwara, Rigzin rescued
the officer from the angry protesters. The police officer also asked the army
to divert their convoy from a different route.
“The claims of district administration brought the locals
on roads. The administration had claimed that power supply across the district
has been restored. The villagers, who were reeling under darkness, were
offended by the irresponsible statement of officials and they staged protests
today,” he said.
Later, Station House Officer Rigzin pacified the
protesters by assuring to take up the issue with the civil administration.
However, the locals, eyewitnesses said, served three day ultimatum to the
administration through the police to get the electricity problem addressed.
“The locals have threatened to block highway for traffic
in case the government fails to restore power supply in every village in the
next three days. The locals have pledged not to allow army convoys, or VIP
cavalcades during the protests in case the government fails to restore
electricity,” eyewitnesses said. (GNS)
0 comments