Rohumu shuts against alleged forces excesses

Pulwama: The Rohumu area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district Wednesday observed a complete shutdown against the alleged excesses committed by government forces in the village on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It was a hell like situation. In order to save themselves from the wrath of combined forces including army, CRPF and SOG men, some youth spend whole night on tree tops. Forces let loose a reign of terror in the village, barging into every house, manhandling people irrespective of their age, smashing windowpanes of houses and damaging parked vehicles,” said locals of Rohmu village.
They said Forces personnel armed with guns and sticks entered into the village at around 10 on Tuesday night. “They went on rampage till 3 of the Wednesday morning. The unprovoked action of the Forces clearly indicates how unbridled and free they are to harass common people of Kashmir,” said a government teacher.
The villagers alleged that some people including a teacher and cleric were thrashed to the extent they fainted. “The Forces seized public address system of all the Masjids not allowing people to assemble at one place to resist the Forces onslaught,” said an elderly man.
The villagers said that Forces picked up at least five persons when they left the village. “Nobody in the village slept. “They didn’t listen to anyone. After their entry into the house, they started damaging residential houses. They were looking for stone-pelters and when we said there are none, they thrashed us all,” said a family.
The villagers alleged that Forces personnel fractured the arm of Tanvir Ahmed Dar, who is the brother of active Jaish militant Muzamil Ahmed.
The locals demanded stern action against the soldiers belonging to 53 Rashtriya Rifles involved in vandalizing the civilian property. They demanded registration of an FIR against the officer of the local army camp.
A top police official said that they have already received a complaint from locals and that they were investigating the issue.
Meanwhile, a Defense official while denying the allegations said no army soldier was involved in ransacking civilian properties or thrashing people.