Srinagar: An Army officer was roughed up by angry protesters on Tuesday in the frontier Kupwara district after he tried to arrest a youth, who objected to the filming of the anti-Power Development Department (PDD) demonstration by the army.
Reports reaching GNS said that hundreds of residents of Peer Mohalla, Anderhama, Drugmulla, Dawood colony, Muqam-e Shahwali, Gund and adjoining areas this morning assembled at Fakirpora and staged anti-PDD demonstrations. Chanting slogans, the protesters alleged that the department has failed to restore electricity supply in the areas after the heavy snowfall last week. Some protesters alleged that the transformer damaged around a month ago in Dawood Colony has not been repaired till date. The protesters blocked Kupwara-Srinagar highway demanding immediate restoration of the power supply.
As the protests were going on, an army convoy passed through the area. An army major identified as D K Singh filmed the protests and asked the protesters to pave way for the convoy.
“However, a youth confronted the officer and objected to the filming of the protest. He also refused to allow the army convoy to pass. Infuriated, the army officer grabbed the youth by collar and tried to whisk him away. However, the protesters hurled fire pots on the officer and thrashed him to the pulp,” Gulzar Ahmad, an eyewitness said.
He said a police team led by SHO, Kupwara, Rigzin rescued the officer from the angry protesters. The police officer also asked the army to divert their convoy from a different route.
“The claims of district administration brought the locals on roads. The administration had claimed that power supply across the district has been restored. The villagers, who were reeling under darkness, were offended by the irresponsible statement of officials and they staged protests today,” he said.
Later, Station House Officer Rigzin pacified the protesters by assuring to take up the issue with the civil administration. However, the locals, eyewitnesses said, served three day ultimatum to the administration through the police to get the electricity problem addressed.
“The locals have threatened to block highway for traffic in case the government fails to restore power supply in every village in the next three days. The locals have pledged not to allow army convoys, or VIP cavalcades during the protests in case the government fails to restore electricity,” eyewitnesses said. (GNS)