Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: State unit of the Vishav Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have strongly condemned the incident of detention of Shri Amarnath pilgrims by police in Kashmir and extorting Rs 3000 from them for release of their vehicle in Shopian area on Saturday.
Reacting strongly to the incident at Heerpur Police Post in Shopian (Kashmir), State president of VHP Dr Ramakant Dubey, urged the new Director General of Police Ashok Parsad to hold an inquiry into the incident and take stern action against the Incharge Police Post Heerpur and other cops for abusing and harassing pilgrims and detaining them for over three hours and taking Rs 3000 bribe for releasing them.
Dr Dubey said this incident has created strong resentment among the members of one community and also hurt their religious sentiments as the cops forced them to remove religious flag and photo of Lord Shiva from the vehicle. He said people of such mindset are not fit for the force and they have brought bad name to the entire police force of the State and even those who are performing their yatra duty with full dedication and respect for every religion. He demanded suspension of Incharge Police Post and stern action against him.
State convener of Bajrang Dal Nand Kishore in a statement has warned that any such act of some elements in Kashmir police, who have shown disrespect to a religious flag and hurt the religious sentiments will prove counterproductive. He demanded an inquiry into the matter and asked the DGP and IG Kashmir to punish the guilty otherwise, the organizations would come out on the roads and start counter reaction.
Mr Kishore demanded that policemen responsible for the act be placed under suspension and a case be registered against them. He said it is shameful that cops demanded and accepted Rs 3000 from pilgrims and detained 8 women including two ailing children at Police Chowki for over three hours on Mughal Road. Mr Kishore said Bajrang Dal strongly condemns the incident. He urged the senior police officers to monitor the functioning of their juniors deployed at various places to facilitate the pilgrims coming from various parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch has also condemned the act of terrorizing Shri Amarnathji pilgrims not by terrorists but by J&K policemen, who were supposed to provide security to the yatris. Reacting sharply to the news appeared in media today, Hira Lal Bhat, national general secretary and executive member Shari Amarnath Yatra Sanghrash Samiti lambasted the Government for this shameful act and demanded immediate action against cops and in-charge police post Heerpur who not only abused the pilgrims but also hurt their religious sentiments. He said the act of the cops was a slap on the secular character of the State.
Follow our WhatsApp channel