Police register cases against army, BSF for attacks on locals

SRINAGAR: Police on Monday registered cases against security forces in Kashmir, who used a civilian as a human shield to allegedly guard against stone pelters and in another incident, gunned down a youth in Batamaloo area.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Beerwah police station, days after a video of the incident of April 9 went viral.

The Valley remained on the edge as thousands of college and school students protested against security forces for their action on students of Pulwama Degree College on Saturday, in which more than 50 students were injured.

The call for protests was given by Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) — a students’ body banned by the authorities — against the “brutality” perpetrated by government forces.

The day started with protests by students of Shri Pratap (SP) College and Higher Secondary in Lalchowk. As students pelted stones at security forces, the personnel too retaliated. Nearby, hundreds of students from Government Women’s College, MA Road, also swarmed an overhead bridge outside their college and shouted slogans.

Following the clashes in Srinagar, the demonstrations spilled over to other districts of the Valley, with students from various colleges and schools of Pulwama, Shopian , Baramulla, Bandipora and Ganderbal joining in.

Owing to the tense situation, authorities suspended 3G and 4G mobile internet services. Commenting on the crisis, National Conference working president Omar Abdullah endorsed his father’s demand of imposing Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

“They (policemen) can’t go to their homes, can’t meet their families. This government can’t hold elections. Elections to the parliamentary seat (Anantnag), which Mehbooba Mufti had left, can’t be held. What more evidence is needed about deteriorated law and order situation?” asked Omar.

Meanwhile, stepping up its offensive against India, the Pakistan army violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district amid the rising tension between the two countries over the death sentence to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. “Pakistan army initiated heavy fire on LoC from 0800 hours in Naushera sector,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said. He added it was unprovoked firing by the Pakistani side and the Indian Army was retaliating effectively.