Police says stone pelting reported during search operation
Kashmir Despatch News
Srinagar: The residents of Reshipora Gawas of Kapran area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday alleged that the army vandalized the property and thrashed several locals during a nocturnal raid in the area.
Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said scores of residents on Sunday hit the streets at Reshipora Kapran to register their protest against what they called Army’s highhandedness and appealed to the DC Ananthnag to take initiative action against the army.
The protesting residents while alleged Army’s 19 RR said that during nocturnal search operation soldiers beat up many residents, thrashed people and vandalized their properties.
The protesting residents while alleging the army as saying they broke into their houses and started thrashing people whosoever came in their way.
Kashmir Despatch when contacted Commanding Officer (CO) of 19 RR Tushal Bachhil he said this is baseless as none of the soldiers from his unit did so, he while adding that a search operation was launched there following inputs about presence of militants in-between group of youth pelted stones on the searching party to shield hiding militants.
Officer said that this was joint operation Police and CRPF was also part rejected the allegations and termed it a baseless.
Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesman, Rajesh Kalia, told Kashmir Despatch over the phone that all the allegations were baseless.
“It is an attempt to malign the army. None of our men is involved in such activity”, Kalia said.
A police officer told Kashmir Despatch that during nocturnal search operation stone pelting was reported in which minor damage to few vehicles has been reported, added that no such damage to property or to thrash any person has been reported termed all allegations as baseless.
