MOURNERS ASSAULTED, 20 INJURED IN CLASHES

 

Aloochibagh Killing

GOWHAR BHAT


Srinagar, May 19: A day after a civilian, Manzoor Ahmed Beg was allegedly killed in the custody of the Special Operations Group of J&K Police, massive protests rocked Aloocha Bagh. Police and CRPF troops used force on the protesters and even assaulted the mourners.
Hundreds of men and women took to streets and demanded action against the SOG men involved in the killing, blocking traffic on the Airport Road. A huge deployment of police swung into action and cane charged the protesters, who offered resistance and pelted stones on the cops. Police resorted to aerial firing and fired tear smoke canisters on the civilians.
Police also assaulted the mourners sitting inside a tent, which resulted in commotion. All shops and businesses remained closed in the area while traffic movement was also affected due to the clashes.
Youths also held protests at Maisuma against the killing where police swung into action to disperse the protesters.
Several delegations of separatist leaders, including Shakeel Bakshi, Javaid Mir, Shahid-ul-Islam visited Beg’s residence to sympathise with the bereaved family. They termed the killing as “barbaric and an act of terrorism.”
The deputy commissioner has already ordered a probe into the killing and appointed additional deputy commissioner, M Y Zargar, as inquiry officer. He has been asked to submit his report within a week.