Budgam in throes of sectarian unrest

DDC convenes meeting of respectable citizens

SAS

SRINAGAR, Dec 20: In order to broker peace between two Muslim sects in central Kashmir’s Budgam district so that peace and normalcy is restored in restive Budgam villages, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, today convened a meeting of responsible persons from both the sects to discuss the measures in tackling sectarian strife, triggered by the surfacing of a porn MMS clip, involving a local youth, who belongs to a Muslim minority sect, on December 15.

The DDC convened a meeting of responsible citizens, including youth, at a Conference Hall here this afternoon. The meeting was attended by senior PDP leader and former minister, Aga Syed Mehmood Al-Moosvi, Moulvi Abid Hussain Ansari, members of civil society, some residents of restive villages of Nasrullahpora, Warpora, Dahpora, Sepdan, Bemina, Qadipora, and other villages. Senior officials of district administration, including SSP Budgam, Uttam Chand, were also present on the occasion. Senior journalists Ahmed A Fayaz and Syed Ali Safvi also attended the meeting.

The meeting condemned the incidents and discussed various measures to restore peace and normalcy in the district. The representatives of both the sects unanimously demanded stern action against the main accused involved in the porn clip. They assured the district administration that they would ensure that no untoward incident of this nature takes place in the district.

On the assurance of villagers and respectable citizens, it was decided that the persons, who have been arrested for allegedly fomenting trouble, would be released.

The villagers also assured the district administration that divisive elements would be reined in.

The representatives of both the sects also apologized for whatever had happened over the passed five days.

SSP Budgam, Uttam Chand, speaking on the occasion, said that the district police had prepared a list of “lumpen elements” and “we are keeping close watch on them”.

Referring to the Budgam Degree College incident where youths of the Muslim majority sect were harassed, the SSP said that such incidents would not be tolerated.

“Strict action will be taken against those who indulge in such activities,” he said.

Pertinently, several villages of Budgam district have been reeling under severe police restrictions for the last five days following violent protests by villagers against a pornographic MMS clip, showing a local youth in a compromising position with a girl inside his truck

The matter took an ugly turn when some residents of Nasrullapora village marched towards nearby hamlet of Dahpora and pelted stones and ransacked the house of the main accused. The tipper of the accused was also torched. After the incident, police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed and curfew was imposed in half a dozen villages of Budgam district.

Meanwhile, rumour mongers enjoyed a field day and escalated the tension between two Muslim sects. Several attempts, according to sources, were made in different areas to attack the nearby villages.

The tension escalated yesterday afternoon when, according to the sources, some youth belonging to Muslim majority sect were roughed up by some youth near Budgam.

Soon after the word spread, two Muslim minority villages –Sepdan and Qadipora - were attacked allegedly by groups belonging to the majority sect in late evening. The sources said that attackers pelted stones and smashed window panes of a house at Sepdan crossing.

Following the incident, police and CRPF personnel were heavily deployed in Sepden area. DDC Budgam, SSP Budgam, and SHO Budgam arrived on the spot to pacify the situation.

The police and CRPF personnel continued to be deployed in the area when last reports came in.