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J&K on boil as BSF men kill four villagers

Jawans open fire as a mob protesting manhandling of imam charges at security post.

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Clashes between the security forces and local people in Ramban resulting in the death of four people have put a restive Jammu and Kashmir again on the boil as the separatists have called for a march to the Lal Chowk and three days shutdown in the state from Friday.

Eyewitness said BSF raided a local madrassa in Dharam village of Ramban on Wednesday night and thrashed a local imam. Locals also alleged that some troops desecrated Holy Quran triggering strong reaction from people who took to the streets. The BSF, however, has strongly denied the allegations.

The incident, meanwhile, sparked anger in both Chenab and Kashmir Valley with protests spreading to Doda, Bhadawah and Kishtwar areas of Chenab Valley and also Srinagar, where police foiled protest march by JKLF chief Yasin Malik triggering clashes between youth and the policemen.

To prevent any further flare up, the authorities’ suspended mobile phone-based internet services. The national highway was closed after protesters blocked the road at several places. Authorities also shut the Jawahar Tunnel hampering the traffic movement.

Taking cognisance of the developments, Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has ordered an inquiry into the incident by BSF special DG, Dilip Trivedi who would visit Ramban to check the veracity of the version given by local BSF commanders. Simultaneously, the Centre has put the state government and paramilitary forces deployed in J&K on alert as today marks the first Friday of the holy month of Ramzan.

“I sincerely regret the unfortunate incident...the loss of lives in this incident is particularly saddening and I offer my deep condolences to the bereaved families. I have ordered an inquiry, to be conducted without any loss of time, to ascertain the circumstances which led to the firing. I assure that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action will be dealt with strictly,” Shinde told reporters.

Admitting that they had to resort to fire in self-defence when massive mob of nearly 800 people charged at their campus, the BSF strongly denied charges of desecrating Holy Quran as alleged by the sarpanch of Dharam village, Altaf Hussain Tragwal.

Putting the blame on BSF, Tragwal alleged that four BSF men entered into a Darasgah and inquired about a person. The imam told them he is a preacher and does not know anyone. He also told them that he is preparing for Tarwai (special night namaz during Ramzan). But they did not listen to him and entered into the room and desecrated the Quran.

Denying this, inspector general of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Rajiv Krishna told dna, “Troops were doing routine checking on Wednesday night and some people assembled there and started protesting. Local police and administration was immediately informed.”

A BSF spokesman said the ambush party of 76 Bn BSF was on the job when they intercepted a person Mohommad Latif and enquired about his identity.

“In return he started arguing. It is learnt that he put baseless and false allegation that BSF patrol party mistreated and desecrated Holy Quran and announced same thing on the loudspeaker of the mosque. Consequently a crowd of around 400-500 persons gathered and started stone pelting on the BSF Post Dharam leading to clashes,” he said adding four people were killed in BSF firing.

“Our constable SK namely Ramhari got bullet injury in his stomach. It was learnt that two civilians also got bullet injuries. All the injured persons were evacuated to nearest hospitals in the government vehicles,” he said.

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