Clashes Erupt after Forces Cordon off Shopian village, locals alleges ransacking

Clashes erupted after the government forces cordoned off Heff and Shirmal villages of south Kashmir’s Shopian district Wednesday morning after receiving inputs of presence of militants in the area 

As the 55 RR and SOG Zainapora laid a siege in both the villages. Search operation in Shirmal village was conducted peacefully

However when forces started search operation in Heff villages, scores of people started raising pro-freedom slogans and hurled rocks on them to disrupt the operation.
According to the locals, Heff village of Shopian district has 5 militants active and whenever forces enter the village they face protests. 

Locals alleged that forces ransacked many houses in the Heff village. They said that that,” forces thrashed whatever came in their way”.

At least 20 persons received pellet injuries during clashes who were shifted to Sub District hospital Zainapora, locals added

Locals alleged that forces beat at least 60 civilians during house to house searches.

“Forces thrash and beat 50 young girls inside their houses during search operation and ransacked dozens of residential houses during the operation,” locals alleged.

They also said that forces severely beat family members of a local militant Sadam Paddar including his mother and took away their mobile phones.

According to the eyewitness, two youths Mairaj Ahmad Ganai and Khushal Hamid were also arrested by forces.

After forces called off operation and when they reached Achan village of Pulwama district as they were on the way to their respective camps, youths from Achan village and it’s adjacent areas hurled rocks on their vehicles, who retaliated with tear smoke shells that trigeminal intense clashes in the area, which continued for more than half an hour.

The situation remained tense in the area.

Meanwhile, police in a statement issued here has denied the allegations of ransacking and beating of people.

In the statement , DIG South Kashmir S.P. Pani said, “during the searches maximum restraint was shown in dealing with the miscreants, who tried to disrupt the operation at Heff.

The operation began during the intervening night of May 16 and 17 and after successful completion of searches with the cooperation of villagers, the operation concluded as planned this morning.

It is clarified that the reports of ransacking and beating of people by the news portals are not based on facts. and there were no injuries to any person”.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.