Soldiers ‘thrash’ people for attending JKLF rally at Charar-e-Sharif, Army denies involvement

Srinagar: Scores of people including women and drivers Friday alleged that army soldiers thrashed and misbehaved with them for attending the rally of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Malik addressed people at Charar-e-Sharif on Friday. The JKLF rally was attended by thousands of people.
After the culmination of Malik’s address, people at Kanidajan area that falls between Pakharpora and Charar-e-Sharif were allegedly stopped by soldiers from 53 Rashtriya Rifles and roughed up. “The soldiers stopped people on way to Pulwama questioning them as how come they participated in Yasin Malik’s rally. They smashed windowpanes of vehicles and even didn’t spare women who had arrived at Charar-e-Sharif shrine to offer prayers,” said a local who also faced the wrath of army.
A respectable citizen who is also a freelance journalist said that soldiers also misbehaved with him when he confronted them for their illegal acts. “These soldiers were trampling law under their feet. Who are they to decide what people should do and where should they go,” he said.
The soldiers action sparked protest and shutdown in Pakharpora area while anti-India and anti-army slogans were raised by people using public address system.
Station House Officer Pakharpora Imtiyaz Ahmed said that some miscreants had pelted stones on an army patrol as a result they stopped people for identification.
Srinagar based Defense spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told CNS that there is no truth in it. “Neither soldiers manhandle nor did they stop anyone. The allegations are baseless,” he added.