55 injured as NC, PDP workers clash in Budgam

Syed Ali Safvi

BUDGAM, May 22: At least 55 persons were injured, three of them seriously, in a day-long clashes between National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) workers here today. Most of the injured (50) were NC workers who had tried to disrupt the scheduled PDP thanksgiving rally at historic Budgam Chowk. Police fired half a dozen tear-gas shells to chase away NC activists.

Panic had gripped the Budgam town late last night after a group of NC workers attacked PDP office here. NC activists also set on fire the taxi stand at Budgam Chowk.

The direct clashes between the two estranged groups, however, started early this morning after a maruti car of PDP worker was attacked by a group of NC activists near Karipora, just 200 meters away from the office of senior superintendent of police (SSP). 16-year-old Irfan Ahmad Bhat, who was driving the car, was severely beaten to pulp. He was later shifted to SKIMS with serious head injury.

The news of the attack spread like a wild fire and soon PDP acticists too took to streets and pelted stones on NC activists. In the ensuing clashes dozens of NC activists were injured, who were shifted to the district hospital.

Policemen had been deployed on different roads leading to Budgam town since last night. However, they were unable to quell the violence. Instead, they let the situation to go out of control. Just 100 meters away from SSP office, a mob of baton-wielding youth were harassing the commuters. Ironically, the police men who had been deployed nearby to maintain law and order in the area were watching as mute spectators.

When contacted SSP Budgam, Aftab Ahmad Kakroo said that angry youth had taken to streets at different places, but situation had been brought under control.

“150-strong mob of NC workers tried to disrupt the rally, but police swung into action and resorted to lathicharge to disperse them,” Kakroo said.

He, however, denied that police fired tear gas shells.

“Only one tear gas shell was fired when a group of stone pelting youth tried to attack PDP activists, who were returning from the rally, on Budgam-Ichgam road,” he told Kashmir Times. “I had issued strict orders against use of tear gas shells to ensure that rallyist don’t get panicky.”

However, eyewitnesses said that police fired at least half a dozen tear gas shells to quell the violence.

NC activists had also taken control of district hospital Budgam and they were not allowing any injured from PDP camp to be treated in the hospital. Even regular patients visiting the hospital were being thrashed. It all was happening under the nose of the police who acted helplessly.

Late in the evening, NC activists also thrashed a resident doctor - Dr Rafi - at district hospital here.

Senior PDP leader Aga Syed Mehmood, who was organizing the rally, said that the district administration had given permission to them yesterday to hold the rally, but today police stopped their workers to reach the venue.

“What the district administration did today is a best example of state terrorism. The district administration, particularly the police, has played a partial role in handling the affairs. They gave free hand to NC activists who did whatever they wanted to at will,” he told Kashmir Times. “I tried to contact SSP many times, but he did not bother to receive my call.”

Traffic remained off the roads and Budgam town was virtually converted into a garrison. Later this evening, situation seemed to have been brought under control, but policemen were still deployed on road to prevent any untoward incident.

Despite the violence, PDP managed to hold the rally at new Bus Stand Budgam, which was attended by over 1000 people. Senior leader of PDP Molvi Iftikhar Ansari, Javed Mustafa Mir, Aga Syed Mehmood, Dr Mohammad Shafi, and Saifuddin Bhat addressed the gathering. The leaders condemned the partialrole of district administration.