Kashmir : Pellet dread returns; young girl among 13 people injured in

Srinagar, : At least 13 persons including a 13 year old girl were wounded while six of them were shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar when clashes broke out in Mulwani Mohalla Rohmu area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday. Locals alleged that government forces resorted to indiscriminate pellet and tear-smoke shelling while for intimidation they even fired dozens of bullets in air.
Locals said that on Monday morning Army team from 53 Rashtriya Rifles, Para-military Central Reserve Police Force cordoned off Mulwani area and started search operation. “People resented and hit to roads when Army men started removing banners and flags from the area. Army fired pellets and bullets and due to intense tear-gas shelling the massive cloud of smoke suffocated people in their houses. Agitated people resorted to massive stone-pelting while government forces used tear-smoke shells to disperse them,” the locals said.
They added that shortly after clashes the government forces went on a rampage. They barged into the houses, smashing windowpanes and thrashed people irrespective of age and gender. “I was hit with gun butts. When my mother came to my rescue she was pushed and kicked by Army men. They even abused my sister,” said a local. Even a retired police officer was not spared. “This happened to me who served police department whole of his life. I wonder how will treat the common men,” said retired DSP Ghulam Hasan Rather adding that windowpanes of his house worth Rs 30,000 were damaged by Army personnel.
Locals said that at least 13 persons some of them females were wounded and six of them were reportedly shifted to Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment. The locals alleged that government forces set even dry grass on fire.
Police sources said that among the 13 injured persons 12 are hit by pellets. “Six persons including two girls have been shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar. A thirteen year old girl suffered pellet injuries in her both eyes,” sources added.
Meanwhile, Police and CRPF men raided Chitragam Shopian in South Kashmir on Monday evoking massive protests followed by clashes between forces and civilians. Reports said that police men had come to arrest Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) Shopian chief, Muhammad Yousuf Falahi. “People came out of their homes and started protesting,” local reports said.
“Forces fired tear gas canisters to disperse off the protestors but youth resorted to intense stone pelting forcing the men in uniform out of the village,” local sources said.
Falahi, a religious scholar, is a top pro-freedom leader in South Kashmir who lead many rallies and addressed scores others since July 09, 2016. He is associated with Syed Ali Geelani led TeH.
Life remained affected for the 115th consecutive day in the Valley due to separatist called protest shutdown. (CNS)