Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 22: The people held strong protest demonstration against police and observed complete bandh in Poonch town after a young girl was beaten up and misbehaved in full public view by an auto- driver belonging to other community.
The incident sparked like wild fire in the otherwise sensitive border town, after the police initially refused to register an FIR against the accused. The members from other communities when came to know about the incident came out on the roads and started protest. The youth forced the closure of markets, schools and colleges. The movement of traffic was also stalled at around 11.30 am. They burnt tyres at two to three busy places of the city and held strong protest.
They were raising slogans against police and demanding arrest of the accused.
The tension gripped the town after a 20-year-old Rasmeet Kour, daughter of S Jaspal Singh, resident of Malti village was allegedly thrashed and ‘misbehaved’ by one driver Mohd Zameel, son of Sain, resident of Dalan village.
The girl also came to the city in his Tata Magic vehicle No. JK-12/5168. Over some issue the driver started abusing the girl and then thrashed her in full public view. Later her brother also arrived there and associates of accused driver thrashed him too, and then both girl and her brother went to Police Station to lodge an FIR. They alleged that Police men at Poonch Police Station refused to register their complaint.
Then they came out from the Police Station and talked to local youth. The activists of Poonch Youth Club, Dashmesh Youth Club and others started gathering. They started protest against police and forced closure of shops and other business establishments. Within half an hour, the life came to halt in the town. They shouted slogans against police and demanded arrest of accused.
Later, SP Poonch Shamsheer Hussain during meeting with senior citizens and DGPC members assured to arrest accused by Friday morning.
He said that FIR No. 59/ 2014 U/ S 343/323/ 294 RPC has been registered against the accused person. Then public suspended protest at around 4.30 pm.
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