2 YOUTHS HIT BY CRPF VEHICLE DURING PROTESTS

SRINAGAR : Two youths were seriously injured when the Central Reserve Police Force vehicle hit them after group of protestors pelted stones on the CRPF vehicle in the old city at Jamia Masjid on Friday.

Protests broke out soon after Friday prayers ended at city’s Grand Mosque Jamia Masjid and Nowhatta areas. The protestors encircled a CRPF vehicle, raised anti-india slogans and clashed with the police..

However, two youths Yonis Ahmad and Kaiser Ahmad were hit by the CRPF vehicle. Owing to their serious condition, the youths were admitted to the hospital. Later pictures of veiled youth encircling CRPF vehicle and the youth being overrun by the vehicle went viral on the social media. While many blamed the CRPF deliberately trying to crush the civilian under the vehicle. PRO CRPF Sanjay Sharma said the vehicle was carrying second in command of 28 battalion S S Yadav when it was surrounded by some 400-500 people who were pelting stones.

“The protestors came very close, some of them even climbed on the vehicle. They were even trying to lynch people inside the vehicle. So, the driver was trying to get out of the situation,” he said adding that the CRPF personnel didn’t fire a single bullet despite the grave situation. Last week after Friday prayers, the police used pellets to quell the protestors. Even tear smoke shells landed inside the mosque. More than 20 people were injured.