Kulgam: Parts of Kulgam including Qaimouh and Khudwani areas observed a complete shutdown against the alleged thrashing of family members of Hizbul Mujhadeen militant Tawseef Ahmed Sheikh at Rampora village of the district in South Kashmir.
Locals said that the government forces reacted after suspected militants shot dead an SOG man Gowhar Ahmed Tantray at Yaripora Kulgam.
The family members of the Hizb militant as quoted by local news agency CNS said that armed government forces tried to barge into their house during the dead of the night, however, they fled from the spot after they raised alarm that attracted the attention of the local population, who hit to roads and pelted stones on the government forces.
The Forces according to locals retaliated with tear-smoke shells while during the clashes many protesters were wounded.
The family members of the Hizb militant said that after a gap of two hours at around 3 am, the government forces appeared again and while barging into the house, they not only ransacked the property but ruthlessly thrashed the inmates including female members.
“Among the beaten was a fifteen-day nursing mother and a three year old baby,” the family member said adding that men in uniform were ruthless who even didn’t spare little children.
The wounded family was shifted to nearby health centre for the treatment. “We don’t know why they attacked us. Yaripora, where an SOG man was shot dead is far away from our village. Besides, Tauseef never visits home and we don’t know his whereabouts,” said one of the family members.
The incident sparked a spontaneous shutdown in parts of Kulgam while shops and business establishments remained shut in Khudwani and Qaimouh areas, protesters also blocked road and disrupted the vehicular movement.
A police official termed the allegations baseless. He said that no house or any member of the Hizb militant was targeted.
Pertinently, suspected militants shot dead a cop Gowahar Ahmed Tantray of Kujjar near Yaripora Kulgam on Wednesday evening when he was heading towards his destination on a motor bike.
Sources said that police have picked up relatives of some militants from the area for questioning. Sources added that the brother of a militant who is a doctor by profession has also been called to police station for questioning.
