Budgam still hot with NC, PDP clashes

Syed Ali Safvi

SRINAGAR, May 23: A day after NC and PDP activists clashed in Budgam town, National Conference (NC) activists today allegedly vandalised and looted three shops of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sympathisers.

NC and PDP activists had gathered in the old Bus Stand this morning. They were forcing the shopkeepers to down their shutters. Smelling trouble, police swung into action and in the ensuing lathicharge four persons were injured. Eyewitness said that police also fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The injured were shifted to the District Hospital Budgam, and their condition was stated to be normal. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, who was shifted to SMHS yesterday after he was seriously injured, was brought to the district hospital Budgam. His condition is also stated to be normal.

Police also arrested seven persons for “disrupting peace in the area”. They have been identified as Ghulam Hasan Bhat alias Changa, Nasir Hussain Sheikh, Shabir Ahmad Mir, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Nisar Ahmad Bhat, Riyaz Ahmad Mir, and Sarwar hussain Bhat.

Earlier this morning a group of NC activists allegedly vandalised and looted grocery and general stores of Ghulam Hussain Wani and Aijaz Ahmad at Imam Bara Budgam. The group then looted the mobile shop of one Rafeeq Ahmad Sheikh in full public glare. The shop is located just opposite the local police station Budgam.

SSP Budgam Aftab Ahmad Kakroo told Kashmir Times that normalcy has been restored in the Budgam town.

“NC and PDP activists took to streets this morning and tried to disturb the peace, however, police swung into action and managed to bring the situation under control,” he said. “100 per cent normalcy has been restored in the area.”

Kakroo, however, denied that any tear gas shell was fired by the men in uniform.

Shops and business establishment remained closed for the second consecutive day today. However, vehicular traffic was restored only in the afternoon. Heavy deployment of police on roads in Budgam town is indicative of the fact that all is not normal.

At least 55 persons were injured yesterday in a day-long clash between NC and PDP workers. NC activists had objected to PDP's rally at historic Budgam Chowk. Police fired half a dozen tear-gas shells to chase away NC activists.

The NC activists had set ablaze the taxi stand at old Bus stand Budgam, and had taken the entire Budgam town hostage with police acting helplessly.

Clashes between the two political rival groups broke out when NC activists forced a shutdown in the Budgam Chowk to protest the conduct of PDP rally, which was scheduled to be addressed by PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, the party president Mehbooba Mufti, and senior leaders Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and Aga Syed Mehmood.