Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 24: Army has been called out in parts of Central Kashmir district of Budgam and indefinite curfew has been imposed following arson and rampage during sectarian violence that has been going on for past six days.
The counter-insurgency Kilo Force spokesman Colonel V K Sharma told Excelsior that Army has been called out to assist the civil administration in maintaining peace in the area. Sources said that administration called out Army after police failed to control the violence.
Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo said that they have imposed curfew since last night and added that police and other security forces are patrolling the sensitive areas of the district to restore peace.
At least 25 houses of both the sects were set ablaze in several villages of Budgam since yesterday. These houses were set ablaze in the areas of Shahpora, Bapora and Qadipora. Large number of houses and vehicles of both the sects have also been damaged in Hakermolla, Sepdan, Dadina, Labertal, Garend, Pymus, Qadipora.
The residents of Chattabugh and Wadwan villages allege that some of the youth wearing Army uniform and carrying weapons went on rampage in these two villages yesterday afternoon. “They broke several house and vehicles in these villages and people fled from these villages due to fear psychosis”, they alleged.
However, Col Sharma said that Army is not part of it and admitted that there have been reports of some gunmen being part of the mobs that went on rampage during past few days.
The residents, however, said that since morning Army has been asking the people to return to their homes. “Army has assured us that they are in the villages for one week and most of the people have returned home now”, said a resident of village Chattabugh.
Extra security forces were rushed to the affected areas last night to maintain peace as senior officials of police and State administration requested people to maintain calm.
Announcements were made through public address systems asking people not to pay heed to rumours that were being spread by people with vested interests.
Violence first broke out in Sabdan, Galwanpora and Reshipora villages of Budgam last Friday following dispute between two sects over construction of a village road.
The authorities over the last week have failed to prevent the sectarian violence until it led to setting ablaze of over two dozen houses. Residents alleged that Government has failed to control the violence since Friday that ultimately led to spreading it to more villages.
Residents of several villages allege that some people in police uniform were part of the mob that went on rampage. They have demanded that it should be probed as who in the mob were wearing Army and police uniform.
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