Troops unleashed hell in Budgam’

They didn’t even spare women and children: Locals; Army apologizes

TAHIR SYEED
Zaneegam (Budgam), Dec 10: Day before the international human rights day, troops unleashed a reign of terror in this village and its neighbouring localities including Kangripora, Pakherpora and Beerwah.
According to locals, the troops went berserk as revenge to the incident in which people caught hold of an army personnel who was trying to sneak into a residential house on the intervening night of December 8 and 9. They said there have been many cases of burglaries since Eid in the area leaving the locals fear-struck.
“We caught hold of a trooper in civvies as he was trying to sneak into the house of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh. However army came to the rescue of the accused and he fled,” locals said.
“While I was chasing the man, the army troopers asked me to stop,” Iqbal Sheikh, a local resident, told Greater Kashmir. “Within 10 minutes the accused arrived in uniform and I recognized him,” he said.
The locals said that when they protested against the incident, the army unleashed terror on the villagers and beat them up and even fired several rounds in air. Several dozen people sustained injuries in the incident.
“They beat up us irrespective of the age and gender. They barged into our houses and ransacked our goods and smashed the window panes of the vehicles parked on roadside,” the locals said.
Around 40 houses and half-a-dozen vehicles were damaged as troops went on rampage, they said.
“They didn’t even spare women and children. They misbehaved with them too,” said a villager. “How can we remain mum?”
“Army entered into our house and broke all window panes without any provocation. They also damaged our three vehicles in the lawn,” said Shakeela, a woman whose house was also ransacked by troops.
“We had kept gold ornaments worth lakhs of rupees in a locker. They went missing after yesterday’s incident as troops forcibly entered into our house,” she rued.
The villagers continued to protest on Thursday. They blocked roads and shouted anti-army slogans.
General Officer Commanding of Victor Force Maj Gen A S Nandan who was appointed as the inquiry officer by the army today visited the affected villages and the Police station and personally apologised to the victims.
He assured the people that such incidents will not be tolerated and those involved would be taken to task, the sources said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, he said, “I have assessed the situation and huge damage to property has been caused here. I have asked for the list of personnel who were on duty at the time of the incident,” he said, adding that he had asked for an explanation from the concerned army regiment.
“People will be compensated for the damage caused by army and we will ensure that such incidents don’t occur in future. We will investigate the matter and the culprits will be punished,” the officer assured.
He asked the villagers to form a joint committee with army to prevent such incidents in future.