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He added that it was likely that somebody “might have come under the vehicle” in the heat of the moment.
The incident triggered a war of words between former chief minister Omar Abdullah and union minister Jitendra Singh. Abdullah tweeted, “Earlier they tied people to the fronts of jeeps and paraded them around villages to deter protesters. Now they just drive their jeeps right over protestors. Is this your new SOP?” Singh, an MP from Udhampur in Jammu region, hit back at the former CM saying that the National Conference leader’s tweet smacked of “the double standards of Kashmir centric politicians”. The security forces are a soft target for these politicians who can’t speak out against the militants, he added.
Police said they have booked the CRPF driver for rash driving and also lodged a case against unidentified stone-pelters for rioting and attempted murder in connection with the violence that erupted in the city on Friday. Top separatist leaders Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani were also placed under detention.
Friday’s incident was the second of its kind in recent weeks and came amidst a Ramzan ceasefire. Last month, a young man was killed when a when a police armoured vehicle ran over him during clashes with government forces in Srinagar. Protests after Friday prayers have once again become a common feature in the old city. Last week, after Friday prayers, the police fired pellets to quell protesters. More than 20 people were injured.
Since the ceasefire was announced last month, there have been four attacks on the army that have left one soldier dead and four others injured, apart from the killing of two civilians.
“To sustain ceasefire, one has to break the vicious cycle of violence, which is difficult,” said Prof Noor Ahmad Baba, political expert and former Dean School of Social Sciences at Central University Kashmir. “The government has to show that restraint being the responsible party. And at the same time they should go ahead and start dialogue.”
Traders in some markets in Madhya Pradesh also reported a spike in prices. “There is a 30-40% drop in supplies since yesterday. Today, the wholesale prices were up by about 20%,” said Amit Patidar, a trader at Neemuch fruit and vegetable market.
At a few places in Madhya Pradesh, farmers put up blockades. In Petlawad town in tribal Jhabua district, farmers distributed milk and vegetables free to patients in the hospitals, refusing to sell both.
Resentment among farmers is particularly strong in Madhya Pradesh — a Bjp-ruled state that is among a clutch of others set for elections this winter — and Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Mandsaur in the state, where five farmers were killed last year on June 6, while taking part in demonstrations.
Anil Yadav, the union general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union, one of the organisations coordinating the agitation, said the campaign will be amplified from next week.
In Punjab, where chief minister Amarinder Singh blamed the Centre for the farm crisis, farmers protested at several places such as Nabha, Ludhiana, Muktsar, Tarn Taran, Nangal and Ferozepur and blocked supply of vegetables and milk entering cities. According to the Punjab police, farmers allegedly forced the closure of vegetable mandi in Ferozpur and in Bathinda, farmers owing allegiance to Bharatiya Kisan Union stopped some vehicles carrying milk. Some farmers were taken into custody, said Bathinda police station officer Iqbal Singh.
In Haryana, milk supply to Haryana Dairy Development Co-operative Federation Ltd was blocked in several districts. In Sirsa, police booked about 90 unidentified persons for allegedly trying to stop sale of milk and vegetables in their village. In Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa where the farmers held protest early morning and did not allow any vegetable seller to reach at the city.
In Maharashtra, the Rashtriya Kisaan Mahasangh (RKM) stopped supplies of vegetables, fruits and mils to cities such as Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. The Mahasangh also announced it would intensify the agitation by increasing the number of traffic blockades from June 7.
The decision to stop supplies starting from June 1 till June 10 was taken by the farmers under the banner of Kisan Ekta Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh.
(With agency inputs)