950808

Indians resort

to extensive

crackdowns

in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Extensive and severe military crackdowns were carried out in 29 localities in Srinagar, 25 in downtown and four in other areas of the city, arresting more than 24 people and subjecting them to physical punishment, reports KMS.

People were dragged out from houses, shops, vehicles including motor rikshaws, and pedestrians were grabbed and made to undergo and prolonged agonising identity parade in front of hooded informers. Even TB hospital was raided and patients, their attendants and medical staff were paraded for identity. Floors of several rooms of the hospital were dug up on the pretext of search for arms.

The Mujahideen retaliated by attacking a military vehicle with hand grenades, near Regal Cinema, critically injuring six troops. The Mujahideen also clashed with troops at Batmaloo and eyewitnesses said that they had seen several troops lying drenched in blood.

Reports from Islamabad said, two troops were killed and four injured in a land mine explosion on Pahalgam road and two more soldiers were killed in a bomb blast at a hotel in Pahalgam town.

A severe clash was reported from Dadu Ganga area of Kupwara in which four troops were killed.

Earlier, during the military crackdown, 124 people were taken into custody.

Three soldiers were killed in a surprise attack by Mujahideen on military patrol in Adhipura in Sopore area.

The action came after a crackdown and the angry people took out a protest procession against the Indian repression. A military party was also attacked by Mujahideen at Dyalgam in Islamabad district but details were not available.

Dead bodies of three victims of custodial killing were recovered in Baramula district.-PPI