Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: At least 22 persons including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, some cops and members of SC/ST and OBC categories were injured when the police resorted to lathi-charge on the protesters and also lobbed tear gas shells on them to stall their movement towards Civil Secretariat near Indira Chowk here today.
The protesters in retaliation also resorted to heavy stone pelting on the policemen, causing injuries to SDPO North, Vivek Shekhar and nine other policemen. At least a dozen protesters also suffered injuries in police action and they were hospitalised. One of them has received head injury while another got fracture at the elbow.
The members of SC, ST and OBC categories as per their scheduled programme ‘Save Reservation Maharally’ under the banner of Jammu Kashmir Reserved Categories Empowerment Alliance assembled at Guru Ravi Dass Temple, Bahu Fort at 11 am today and started their protest rally towards Civil Secretariat via Gujjar Nagar Tawi Bridge, Viveka Nand Chowk and Gumat Market at around 11.30 am. They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also carrying banners and placards in their hands depicting their demands. They were demanding restoration of reservation in promotions in various Govt jobs.
As after passing through Bus Stand area, they reached near Indira Chowk carrying banner and placards in their hands, a large contingent of police and para-military force stopped them. The police had already raised strong barricades and also laid concertina wire on the road to stall their movement ahead towards Civil Secretariat which was hardly 300 meters away from this point. Some senior police officers were also there. The protesters mostly including employees’ unions leaders and heads of some community members were also accompanying besides, some former legislators and a few sitting including Javed Rana, Sham Lal Bhagat, Ejaz Khan, Ch Qamar; Ex-MLAs- Sat Pal Lakhotra, Prof Gharu Ram and Mohd Sharief Niaz; Sanjay Bhasin, Prof Kali Dass, Sham Lal Basson and others.
The police officers told them that a small delegation will be allowed to Sectt for submitting memorandum to CM and not entire rally. But they rejected the plea and sat on dharna at the Chowk and movement of traffic was stalled. They kept sitting there holding protest demonstration against Govt. After about an hour, the policemen resorted to teargas shelling and lathi-charge on them to clear the busy road. From the other side, heavy stone pelting also started. And it lasted for about 15-20 minutes. Ten Police men including DySP and 12 protesters were injured in clash and they were provided first aid in hospital. Some protesters were also detained but were later released in the evening.
A senior member of the JKRCEA told the Excelsior said that many people from Kathua, Samba, Udhampur etc had come to attend rally. Some got injuries but left with out getting treatment here . He said 12 persons have been provided treatment here in Jammu hospital but their number could be more. He alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas shelling on them without any provocation. The RCEA members have condemned the police action.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that police resorted to action after some miscreants among the protesters resorted to stone pelting on them. He said that DSP, Vivek Shekhar, Constable Neeraj Singh, SGC Mohan Singh, Const Shahid Hussain, Const Gaurav Sharma, SGCT Mohd Azam, Head Const Shatar Singh, Const Narinder Singh, Const Ratan Lal and SGCT Shafiq Ahmed were injured in stoning by the violent mob. He said that a case will be registered in this connection.
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