Tough action likely against stone pelters after Aug 24

Planeload of non-lethal arms reaches Srinagar; 30 held in Bemina crackdown

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 21: A planeload of non-lethal weapons, carrying DRDO-made Pump Action Guns, today reached here amid reports that state government would be dealing the street protesters firmly after conclusion of Amarnath pilgrimage on August 24th. In a significant development, Police and CRPF today conducted a crackdown in Nundrishi Colony of Bemina and arrested about 30 youth, allegedly involved in stone pelting and attacks on Police.

Authoritative sources revealed to Early Times that the state government had requisitioned huge consignments of non-lethal weapons, including the DRDO designed and BSF-made Pump Action Guns (PAGs) and the USA-made Taser Guns for effectively dealing violent street demonstrations in Kashmir valley. As many as 60 civilian demonstrators have also died in such clashes in Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore, Pampore, Pulwama, Kulgam, Nayidkhai, Pampore, Khrew, Bijbehara, Narbal, Tral and few other towns in the Valley since June 11th. Sources said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed Police, assisted by CRPF, to deal the violent crowds “effectively” with non-lethal weaponry but ensure that there was no more addition to the death toll of 60.

Sources said that fresh supply orders have been placed with a BSF facility at Tikenpur which has begun to deliver consignments. According to these sources, an IAF aircraft today reached here with huge consignments of PAGs and other non-lethal arms and weaponry. Sources said that a larger number of the USA-made Taser Guns was also being procured. Police and CRPF would be using PAGs to pump non-lethal pellets. Sophisticated pellets of Taser Guns would immobilize the human target with high voltage shocks. It costs more than Rs 100,000 in the international market.

According to these sources, J&K Police would be getting substantial backup support from CRPF as more than 40 companies would be available after winding up of the annual Amarnath Pilgrimage on Aug 24th. Sources said that tough action against stone pelters was being ordered immediately after Aug 24th.Those picked up during demonstrations and attacks on Police and security forces would be booked under different criminal laws including PSA and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

As part of a fresh exercise, Police and CRPF today carried out a crackdown on Nunrishi Colony in Bemina outskirts of Srinagar and got as many as 30 youth arrested under allegations of attacking Police, forces and civilian traffic in the name of “protests” and enforcement of shutdown. Sources said that there was considerable resistance to the Police action but the authorities carried out the operation without yielding to pressures. Residents later put up a strong demonstration with the allegation that innocent people with no involvement in demonstrations and stone pelting had been arrested. They alleged that a Police officer roughed up women and removed dupatta of a middle-aged woman. The operation was conducted amid tight enforcement of curfew in Bemina as well as entire downtown Srinagar and uptown localities of Maisuma and Abi Guzar.

Curfew remained in force in Sopore, Bijbehara and a couple of other towns. Rest of the Valley reeled under near-total shutdown called by separatist hardliner, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Hurriyat (G) chief has relaxed shutdown on Tuesday next and asked the Kashmiris to observe total shutdown, without exception of essential services, as per a calendar released by the conglomerate.

Reports said that two Police personnel sustained injuries when violent crowds attacked them at Sheikhpora on Srinagar-Budgam Road. Srinagar-Airport Road also remained disturbed due to a demonstration at Humhama for some time. Reports said that in the south Kashmir township of Shopoian, crowds attacked DC’s office and other public properties. One of the Police constables working with Crime Branch of Kashmir was captured and beaten up to hilt. Routine clashes and demonstrations were reported from over 20 other places in the Valley today. It was after several days that nobody died in clashes with Police or CRPF.

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