Army beats civilians in Bandipora Residents stages demos, demand action against troopers

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Mir Tariq
Bandipore, April 25: People of Pathribal Panar area in this north Kashmir’s district on Friday staged protest demonstrations against the army after the troopers of 57 RR beat the civilians to pulp.The locals said that troopers of 57 RR raided the residential house of one Abdul Rashid Chachie, a poor labourer.“Troopers picked up Rashid Thursday night. He was left half-dead in the locality at 3 am on Friday,” locals said.People also alleged that the troopers assaulted Rashid’s mother Begum Jan and three sisters Lota Bano, Parveena and Shaheena.
Rashid’s neighbour Amjid Khan said, “The troopers of 57 RR along with three persons with covered faces entered Rashid's house, which is a few meter away from ours. The troopers started beating the family members. We heard them screaming and crying for help,” said Amjid Khan, adding, "We tried to rush towards the spot but the men with masks stopped us."Rashid’s wife Jameela Begum said, "The troopers forcibly entered our house after broke the front door and started beating us.”Begum said that the troopers picked up her husband and left him half dead at 3 am."Army entered our house. They dispersed our belongings and thrashed me on the floor. They beat me with gun butts. When I screamed for help a trooper put his hand on my mouth," said Praveen's sister Abdul Rashid.Abdul Samad Chachie told Rising Kashmir that during the morning prayers apprehensive neighbours rushed to Abdul Rashid's house and found him half dead."He was beaten to pulp and was not able to move. So we put him on the bed and rushed him to a hospital were the authorities stopped us from entering," said Samad.The residents then staged a sit in protest near Deputy Development Office Bandipora, which turned violent when few policemen started thrashing the protestors. However the timely intervention of DC Bandipora silenced the irate mob.The protestors also demand removal of army camp from the area. Two troopers of 57 RR were also involved in last year’s molestation of a girl at Gujarpati Kunan.DC Bandipora, Shiekh Mushtaq said, "Stern action will be taken against the erring troopers. I have informed the Brigadier about the situation and he has assured me that action will be taken against them."Admitting about the inhumane treatmented meted to the locals by the 57 RR troopers, DC Bandipora and Additional SP Zahid Malik said, "They are creating problems here in the district. I will write to the army’s higher authorities to take action against the troopers of 57 RR in Bandipora."