Several Govt offices, vehicles torched, damaged in Ramban
Curfew imposed in Ramban, may be extended to more parts today
HM orders inquiry, deputes Special DG to Gool
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 18: An indefinite curfew was clamped in Ramban at 5 pm today after mob protesting the killing of four civilians in security forces firing and injuries to 43 others including a BSF jawan and 14 police constables, at Dharam in Gool-Sangaldan area went on rampage torching and damaging Government vehicles and trying to set ablaze and damage the offices of Deputy Commissioner and police station in Ramban town.
Police and para-military had to use lathicharge and tear-smoke shells to disperse the rampaging mob even after announcement of curfew. The Amarnath yatra convoy, which was stranded between Batote to Chanderkoot on the National Highway right from the morning, was cleared only after imposition of curfew amidst tight security arrangements.
Four civilians including a Chemistry Lecturer were killed and 43 others including a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan and 14 constables and rest civilians were injured, some of them seriously, when mob attacked BSF camp of 76 battalion at Dharam in Gool-Sangaldan area thrice—first during night and twice this morning, about 48 kilometers from Ramban this morning forcing the security personnel to retaliate.
The mob protesting against alleged desecration of holy book by the security personnel at Dharam last night attacked the BSF camp with heavy stoning. After the killing of four civilians in the firing, the mob intensified protests along with dead bodies seeking action against the BSF and a high level inquiry.
As reports of the civilian killings and alleged desecration of holy book spread, people took to streets at many places including Batote, Chanderkoot, Ramban and Banihal and blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway disrupting movement of Amarnath yatra convoy and other normal traffic prompting authorities to impose curfew in Ramban town and other areas on the National Highway. Protests also took place at various places across the State including Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Rajouri and Budhal, Mahore and Dharmari but they were peaceful. Authorities have sounded alert in the entire State and asked the administration to watch the situation during Friday prayers tomorrow.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has ordered an inquiry into the firing incident and deputed BSF Special Director General Dilip Trivedi to Ramban from New Delhi to talk to local Commanders about the incident and hold an inquiry. This announcement by the police and civil officials to the agitated people at Dharam and Gool pacified the mob, which after day long protests, yielded and took the bodies home for burial tomorrow.
The State Government has ordered removal of Deputy Commissioner, Ramban Sham Vinod Meena for alleged “inept handling’’ of the situation and replaced him with MH Malik, Director Estates.
IG BSF Jammu Frontiers, Rajiv Krishna, who flew back here from New Delhi, categorically denied desecration of holy book by any of the BSF jawans saying “we are a professional force and have regard for all religions. We can’t commit such an act. We had to retaliate as some anti-national elements got mixed up in the mob, which was evident from bullet wound caused to the BSF jawan Ramhari, who has been airlifted and admitted in the GMC Jammu in critical condition’’. Mr Krishna later flew to Dharam for on spot assessment of the situation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the State Government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and deputed Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kitchloo, Minister for Revenue and Relief Aijaz Ahmed Khan, DGP Ashok Prasad, IGP Jammu Rajesh Kumar and Divisional Commissioner, Pradeep Gupta to the spot.
Four civilians killed in firing by the security personnel have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad Shan, son of Abdul Rehman Shan, a resident of Gool and a Lecturer of Chemistry at Government Higher Secondary School Thatharka, Abdul Latief son of Abdul Rashid Bakerwal, a resident of Jasmlan, Gool, Javed Ahmad son of Abdul Sattar Manhas R/o Goi, Dharam and Farooq Ahmad son of Ghulam Abbas Beg R/o Salbala, Gool.
Of 43 injured, 16 were airlifted to Jammu and two to Srinagar and admitted in the Medical Colleges. Twenty-five injured were admitted in District Hospital, Ramban. Fourteen police constables were late this evening shifted to Ramban in injured condition and some of them could be referred to Jammu by road late tonight.
IGP Jammu Rajesh Kumar told the Excelsior from Ramban on telephone tonight after return from Dharam that some of the towns could be placed under curfew tomorrow, which included Dharam, Gool, Sangaldan etc. Prohibitory ordered, if required, could be placed in other areas. He said no curfew has been imposed in any part of Jammu region today including Ramban.
“We will review situation with senior officers in the early hours of this morning and take a decision on imposition of curfew or restrictions,’’ Mr Kumar said, adding situation has returned to normal at around 5 pm at Dharam, Gool, Sangaldan, Ramban and other areas of National Highway. He said Amarnath yatra and other traffic on Highway was restored after normalcy.
A decision on movement of normal traffic on the National Highway will also be taken tomorrow. However, Amarnath yatra would proceed to Baltal and Pahalgam tomorrow morning under tight security.
Sources said tomorrow was crucial as authorities anticipated trouble in some areas after Friday prayers. Police top brass has alerted all SSPs of the districts to take precautionary measures at all sensitive areas tomorrow for the Friday prayers.
Authorities in Srinagar said that most parts of Srinagar and other Kashmir towns will be under curfew tomorrow as they were anticipating trouble after Friday prayers in view of Dharam incidents.
Official sources and eyewitness account revealed that the BSF jawans reportedly intercepted Mohammad Latief, relative of a religious preacher in Dharam area, about five kilometers from Sangaldan and 10 to 12 kilometers from Gool in Ramban district at 7 pm yesterday.
While Dharam Sarpanch Altaf Tragwal told the Excelsior on telephone that the preacher and his brother were warned against prayers after 7 pm, the BSF sources said Latief was found moving in the area under mysterious circumstances. “We informed his mysterious activities to police,’’ the BSF said.
Latief reportedly sat on a bridge and started offering prayers, Tragwal said, adding the BSF jawans allegedly desecrated the holy book and thrashed Latief, who informed the incident to Imam and other people of the area.
The version given by Tragwal and other local people was strongly contested by the BSF. IG BSF Rajiv Krishna told reporters in Jammu on rushing back from New Delhi that the BSF is a disciplined and professional force with high regards for all religions and would never indulge in desecration of holy book.
“The allegations are motivated. In fact, some anti-national elements were out to exploit the situation and they spread the rumours. The very fact that one of our jawan received a bullet in his stomach indicated that some one fired from the mob and that anti-national elements had got mixed up in the crowd that attacked the BSF camp of 76 battalion at Dharam,’’ Mr Krishna said.
As a word spread about alleged desecration of holy book, an announcement was made from the religious place and a large number of people gathered at Sheddy Morha in Dharam at 12.30 am in the night and started pelting stones at BSF camp of 76 battalion. They raised slogans outside the camp till 3 am before dispersing.
Again at 6.45 am, the mob with increased strength targeted the camp. By then, senior police and civil officers from Ramban and re-enforcement of police from Sangaldan and Gool police station had already reached the spot on requisition of the BSF. The mob continued protest for about an hour in which the security forces fired some shots in air and tried to disperse the protesters with tear-smoke shells etc. In the attack, BSF jawan Ramhari got a bullet wound in his stomach.
As security forces and police were engaged in taking measures to defuse the situation, a big mob of 2000 to 3000 re-grouped and again attacked the BSF camp with stones etc at 9.30 am. The third attack was fiercest and the people were bent upon intruding inside the camp.
BSF said some anti-national elements in the camp had mixed up with the crowd and wanted to loot their weapons from the camp, which forced security forces to first fire warning shots and, finding no solution, resorted to direct firing. They said a BSF vehicle was also damaged by the mob and attempts were made to inflict casualties by storming the BSF camp and loot weapons. Four civilians were killed in the firing while 43 others including the BSF jawan were injured.
Most of the people dispersed after firing while over 1000 others continued to stage a sit-in at Dharam town along with dead bodies.
Sources said the BSF 76 battalion was virtually acting as tunnel guarding force and conducting area domination patrols in Dharam, Gool, Sangaldan etc where rail work was going on to connect Katra with Banihal.
Large number of people along with three dead bodies continued protest at Dharam while people with the body of Chemistry Lecturer held protests in Gool. Some of the people also blamed SHO Sangaldan Sub Inspector Mohammad Fazal Wani for opening firing on the mob and demanded action against him.
The people also blamed the administration for not taking prompt action and allowing the situation go out of control.
Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo flew to Gool while Minister for Revenue Aijaz Ahmed Khan, DGP Ashok Prasad, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Pradeep Gupta and IGP Jammu Rajesh Kumar flew to Dharam and talked to the agitated people.
They told the protesters that Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has already ordered an inquiry into the incident and deputed Special Director General of BSF Dilip Trivedi to the spot. They said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also ordered a magisterial probe in the matter and action would be taken. They assured compensation to next of kin of the people.
Following assurances, the people lifted their dharna at Gool and took the bodies to their houses. The burial will be performed at 11 am tomorrow.
IG BSF Rajeev Krishna told reporters at BSF headquarters here after cutting shot his visit to New Delhi that its personnel opened fire in self-defence with “maximum restraint” when a mob indulged in firing and tried to storm their storehouse of arms and ammunition.
He said that a picket of troops of 76 Battalion of BSF posted on Ramban district intercepted one person moving in suspicious circumstances at a check-point at Dursoo Nallah Bridge area between 9.45 pm to 10 pm last night.
As he was questioned about his movement, he refused to give details about his presence there. The BSF team left him and informed the police, the IG said.
He added that at around 6.30 am today as the police were investigating the matter, a mob of 700-800 people attacked the BSF camp with stones injuring one constable.
He said there was also firing from the mob in which one BSF jawan sustained gun-shot wounds and the protesters stormed the camp, pelted stones and tried to force their way into the arms and ammunition store.
“Keeping in view the threat to the arms and ammunitions, steps were taken with maximum restraint by the security forces in which there were some casualties”, the IG BSF said, adding four persons were killed in the firing.
Asked whether the casualties were in BSF or police firing, the IG said “BSF and police officials and officers were on the spot. It is difficult to say in whose firing the casualties were caused”.
To a question whether there were militants among the mob that fired on BSF, Mr Krishna said “it is a matter of investigation but there was a fire-arm in the mob and one jawan was injured in the firing from the mob”.
The IG said BSF exercised restraint last night as also this morning.
Replying to a question about the allegation of local people that BSF had done an act of sacrilege, the IG said “BSF is a highly professional force. We respect every religion and religious books. BSF has been posted here for last several years and no allegation has come to us that any BSF personnel had indulged in any kind of such act in the past”.
Following the firing incident, shutdown was enforced in Bhaderwah, Gool, Ramban, Sangaldan, Chanderkoot, Batote, Banihal, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Budhal and Talab Khatikan areas of Jammu region and people took out processions shouting slogans against the killings and denouncing what they called desecration of holy book.
In Jammu, protests were held at Khatikan Talab area and protesters raised anti-Government and anti-BSF slogans and called for action against those responsible for desecration.
While protests at most of the places were peaceful, they turned violent at Ramban in the afternoon. Authorities had stopped Amarnath yatra convoy and other traffic between Nashri Nullah and Chanderkoot in view of the protests. Other traffic on the highway from both sides was also suspended.
Agitated youth attacked the office of the Assistant Commissioner (Development) and set it on fire, which was controlled by the fire tenders but by then one room of the office had been damaged.
Mob also torched two official vehicles of Assistant Commissioner and Chief Planning Officer, Ramban and damaged the vehicles of Tehsildar, Forest Department and some private vehicles parked in the Government offices and Ramban town.
The office and residence of the Deputy Commissioner were stoned in the afternoon causing damage to window panes. Police and para-military personnel exercised utmost restraint and didn’t resort to any force.
The police station was also subjected to stone pelting. A number of Government vehicles including Gypsy of the Assistant Commissioner, Ramban were torched or damaged. Some private vehicles were also extensively damaged by the agitated mob at Ramban.
A number of private vehicles were also damaged in the stoning by the agitated protesters. Sources said the violent protests were confined to Ramban while the people held peaceful protests at Batote, Chanderkoot, Ramsu and Banihal.
Meanwhile, the convoy of Amarnath yatra, both official and private, were stopped at Udhampur, Batote, Nashri Nullah and Chanderkoot during the day in view of protests at Ramban and Banihal. The convoys were allowed to proceed towards Pahalgam and Baltal around 5 pm after curfew was imposed at Ramban and protesters were dispersed. The yatra was provided additional security.
Sources said situation was normal at Dharam, the site of the firing, Gool, Sangaldan and most of the places on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway especially in Ramban, which witnessed massive violence during the day.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today ordered an inquiry into the firing incident in Dharam area of Ramban district and said any excessive use of force will be dealt with strictly.
“I have ordered an inquiry to be conducted without any loss of time to ascertain the circumstances leading to the firing. I assure that any use of excessive force or irresponsible action shall be dealt with strictly,” he said in a statement issued in New Delhi.
Expressing regret over the “unfortunate incident” in which at least four people were killed, the Home Minister said the loss of life in the incident was particularly sad and offered his deep condolence to the bereaved families.
“I appeal to the people to maintain peace and normalcy to be restored,” he said.
BSF Special Director General Dilip Trivedi has been asked to rush to Ramban from New Delhi and he will talk to his local commanders about the incident.
The BSF tonight said it has identified a 25-year-old local whose interception and questioning triggered the protests at its camp in Ramban.
The Force claimed Mohammed Latif, son of Mustafa and resident of Dalwah in the area, instigated the mob leading to the situation where four people were killed and 43 others, including security personnel, were injured in stone-pelting and resultant firing.
Latif was intercepted in Dharam belt of Gool tehsil and was questioned about his presence in the area.
“It is learnt that this person put baseless and false allegation that BSF patrol party mistreated and desecrated the holy book and announced the same on the loudspeaker from the mosque after which the crowd gathered and started stone pelting on BSF post Dharam,” the BSF said.
The Force said its troops “restrained from firing and informed local police of likelihood of deterioration of situation due to the violent actions by the locals.”
One BSF vehicle was badly damaged by the civilians besides inflicting injuries to many BSF persons. Protesters blocked all the roads going towards the BSF post and thus Force personnel remain confined to the camp, it said.
“It is learnt that efforts were made by section of protesters and they tried to attack on the post and to inflict injuries to the BSF and police persons compelling them to open fire in self defence,” the BSF said. Valley
The locals, however, failed to buy the BSF theory saying there were no reasons for Latif to lie and insisted that the jawans had desecrated the holy book that angered the local people.
Of 43 injured, Nazir Ahmed, son of Noor Mohammad of Dalwa and Mohammad Amin, son of Mohammad Yousuf of Teather were referred to Srinagar.
The injured admitted in District Hospital, Ramban, have been identified as Mohammad Iqbal, son of Mohammad Sultan, Mohammad Farooq, son of Ghulam Rasool, Azar Naseem, son of Farooq Ahmed, Abdul Aziz, son of Abdul Rehman, Basher Ahmed, son of Abdul Samad Wani, Manzoor Ahmed, son of Abdul Rashid Nijar, Javed Ahmed, son of Mohammad Sultan, Tariq Ahmed, son of Nazir Ahmed, Ghulam Rasool, son of Abdul Star, Ghulam Qadir, son of Abdul Rahim, Mohammad Rafiq, son of Mohammad Rustam, Tariq Ahmed, son of Abdul Aziz, all residents of Dalwa, Mohammad Touseef, son of Abdul Hamid, Manzoor Ahmed, son of Abdul Rashid, Abdul Rashid, son of Abdul Mohammad, Abdul Aziz, son of Ali Mohammad, all residents of Sangaldan, Mohammad Fareed, son of Abdul Rehman and Mohammad Nayeem, son of Gulta, both residents of Thatharaka, Mohammad Iqbal, son of Abdul Padyer, Nazir Ahmed, son of Fateh Mohammad, Parvez Ahmed, son of Ghulam Rasool, Mohammad Sadiq, son of Abdul Rashid, Gulzar Ahmed, son of Kahzir Din, Mohammad Sharief, son of Habibullah, all residents of Gool.
The injured referred to GMC Jammu included Krim-ud-Din, son of Mohammad Ismail, Abdul Gani, son of Mohi-ud-Din, Ghulam Mohammad, son of Sheikh, all residents of Dalwa, Nizar Ahmed, son of Mohammad Yousuf, Mushtaq Ahmed, son of Ghulam Mohammad, Muzamil Haq, son of Ghulam Ahmed, Abdul Rashid, son of Abdul Gani, Shahbaz Mirza, son of Mohammad Shafi, Fareed Ahmed, son of Nizam-ud-Din, all residents of Gool, Mohammad Fareed, son of Abdul Gani Dar of Mohallkote, Basher Ahmed, son of Late Abdul Gani, Parvez Ahmed, son of Jamal Din, all residents of Sangaldhan, Mohammad Irfan, son of Abdul Gani, Zubair Ahmed, son of Abdul Salam Wani, both residents of Thatharaka.
Meanwhile, DC Jammu AK Sahu has sanctioned Rs 10,000 each in favour of 16 injured admitted in GMC Jammu. Of the amount, Rs 5000 has been disbursed among each of the victim.
An official spokesman said that Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley will be under curfew on Friday to prevent violence in the aftermath of security force firing on protesters in Gool.
The spokesman said that meeting of top officials of administration and police was held in Srinagar Police Control Room today to review the situation arising out of the killings in Gool. “It was decided in the meeting that curfew will be imposed in the Valley to maintain law and order situation,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shalinder Kumar, IGP Kashmir Abdul Gani Mir, DC Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah, SSP Srinagar Syed Ashiq Bukhari and other district officials and police officers.
In the meantime soon after the news of Gool killings reached Srinagar, all the business establishments and shops closed down in City Centre. Clashes broke out between stone throwing youth and police deployed in Maisuma area.
The shopkeepers closed their shops and major part of city witnessed spontaneous shutdown. Protests were reported from South Kashmir where angry youth clashed with police at several places.
The Kashmir Bar Association carried out a protest march in City Centre Lal Chowk and announced to boycott courts for three days in protest against the killings. President of the Kashmir Bar Association, Zaffar Qureshi condemned the firing. “We support 3 day strike call given by the separatists and we will boycott courts. A team of lawyers should be allowed to visit Raman to conduct independent inquiry.”
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan told Excelsior: “We have closed traffic on 300 kilometer long Srinagar-Jammu highway as protesters have blocked the national highway at around half a dozen places. We had no alternative than to shut the highway for traffic for the safety of passengers.”
Reports said that the Jawahar Tunnel was also closed and no one was allowed to cross the tunnel on either side.
Fearing flare up in violence as social media was flooded with the messages about the Gool firing and protests that took place at several places, the Mobile internet services was temporarily withdrawn in Kashmir by their providers as a precautionary measure. However, broadband internet services functioned normally.
Chairman of separatist Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani in his appeal has called for complete shutdown for three days on July 19, 20 and 21 and protest and demonstrations after Friday prayers against the firing.
Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the Gool firing. Mirwaiz, who was placed under house detention soon after the incident, appealed people to observe strike on July 19 and 20. He said that soon after the Friday prayers, in-absentia funeral prayers would be offered for the martyrs of Gool, Ramban in Jamia Masjid Srinagar followed by a protest march.
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