Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 5: An Army recruitment rally attended by over 3000 aspirants just to fill up 12 vacancies of constables in Territorial Army in North Kashmir’s border town of Tangdhar turned violent leaving 34 persons injured in police firing and clashes.
Over 3000 aspirants had gathered for Territorial Army recruitment for filling of 12 posts of constables in TA at Chamkote Army camp in Tangdhar this morning. The aspirants turned violent after Army changed minimum qualification required for the posts.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Itrat Hussain, told Excelsior that 13 persons were injured in clashes that broke out after an Army recruitment rally turned violent at Chomkote in border town of Tangdhar this morning. He said that police had to open fire to control the mob in which two persons suffered bullet injuries.
Hussain said that out of 13 injured persons, 2 who were hit by bullets have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment and 11 others were admitted to Sub-District Hospital Tangdhar.
The DC said that large number of aspirants gathered for the Army recruitment rally at Chomkote this morning and Army allowed only those candidates who had minimum qualification of Matric with 45 percent marks and didn’t allow others who had lesser qualification.
Hussain said that those with lower qualification and less percentage of marks turned violent and police was called who charged batons and opened fire to restore order in the area.
Reports said that the aspirants turned violent against Army’s decision to disallow the middle pass and Matric with below 45 percent marks to take part in the rally. They damaged the gate of the Army camp and set ablaze its fence. Army tried to control the mob but called police to restore the order.
Witnesses said that police charged batons, fired tear smoke shells and opened fire on the protesters. Two persons, Arshad Suliaman son of Suliaman Sheikh of Kandi and Sajjad Ahmad son of Abdul Qayoom of Bag Bail were injured in police firing. They were removed to Srinagar where they are under treatment at Bone and Joints Hospital, Barzulla.
The injured Arshad told Excelsior that they were first called for the recruitment rally by the Army and later they said only those having minimum qualification of Matric with 45 percent marks can take part in the rally.
Arshad said that the aspirants turned violent and Army used mild force to disperse them and later called police. He said that SHO arrived with a police party who ordered firing on the protesters.
Srinagar based Defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel N N Joshi told reporters that some aspirants who failed in physical tests started trouble when they set fencing ablaze, pelted stones attaining threatening posture. “The Army personnel, sensing danger to life and property, fired few blank rounds which do not cause any injuries. The injuries have been caused by stone pelting,” he added.
The SDM, Karnah Zahoor Ahmad Mir and Superintendent of Police Kupwara who reached the spot are trying to resolve the issue. The Karnah area observed strike against the firing on the protesters.
The politicians of the area are now holding meeting with the Army to resolve the issue. Tension still prevailed in the area but the situation has been brought under control.
Follow our WhatsApp channel