CRPF man suspended for firing at ambulance driver in Kashmir

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 19

Within hours of the pellet-firing incident that led to injuries to an ambulance driver here on Thursday evening, the CRPF has suspended a sub-inspector and started investigation.

“Sub-inspector BS Yadav has been suspended and departmental action initiated against him for the incident,” a CRPF spokesman told The Tribune.

He said the pellet fire was opened by the SI while handling a stone-pelting incident in Safakadal area. The CRPF man, however, did not take necessary precaution in view of the ambulance movement. The ambulance on its way to SMHS hospital came in the way during the clash and the pellet fire hit the driver, causing injuries in his hand.

Driver Ghulam Mohammad Sofi managed to drive his ambulance to the hospital ferrying patients from Ganderbal, where he was also admitted for a fracture in his hand.

The government has come in for severe criticism for the use of pellet guns that has led to injuries, blindness and deaths in the clashes between protesters and security forces. With the death of a college lecturer at Khrew on Wednesday night, the death toll in the recent violence has gone up to 66 while thousands have been injured following the killing of militant Commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

Meanwhile, curfew was clamped in Srinagar, Anantnag town and Beerwah area of Budgam district on day 42 of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir.

Curfew remained in force in the entire Srinagar district. Curfew was extended to the entire district since Wednesday to thwart the separatists’ call for a 72-hour march to the UN office. Srinagar downtown areas have been reeling under curfew unabated for the past more than a month.

Curfew was imposed in Magam and Beerwah area of Budgam district to prevent any attempts of the separatists to march towards Aripanthan village to pay tributes to the four people killed by security forces on Tuesday.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, in a fresh protest programme, has called for march to the village to offer the Friday prayers and pay tributes to the four youths killed.

In south Kashmir, curfew is on in Anantnag town, while restrictions are in place in other areas of Anantnag district, apart from Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts. Restrictions are also in force across all other districts in central and north Kashmir areas.