Police backing rioters in Jammu: Kashmiri driver : Rising Kashmir

‘We were beaten in front of cops’

Wasim Khalid
Srinagar, Aug 10: Alleging that police and paramilitary personnel were backing the rioters in Jammu, the six Kashmiri drivers who managed to reach Srinagar were ‘ruthlessly beaten’ by the rightwing activists.
“The rioters continue to block Srinagar-Jammu highway and don’t allow Kashmiri drivers to ply their vehicles on the highway,” said injured Jan Muhammad Khan, a Kashmiri driver from Kakapora Pulwama.
He had received burn injuries and on his arrival to Kashmir was shifted to SMHS hospital, where he was attended by doctors. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

Narrating his woeful tale to Rising Kashmir, Khan said that he stranded at Punjab border. “The Punjabis were very compassionate to us. They provided food to us for three days,” he said adding, “After remaining in Punjab for three days, we were signalled by Jammu and Kashmir to march towards Srinagar as the highway was secured”.
He said, “As we crossed Lakhanpur, a mob of 500 people carrying sharp edged weapons and stones started chasing us. They pelted stones and petrol bombs on our vehicles”.
Feeling entrapped, he said, “We sought help from police and para-military personnel. They refused to provide security cover to us and left us on lurch”.
Khan said that the mob over-powered them and beat them up mercilessly. “They also damaged our trucks,” he said.
Another driver Ali Mohammad Sofi from Kakapora said the rioters hurled petrol bombs, acid and gunpowder on their trucks. “When we sought help from police, they ridiculed us. They gave them free hand in attacking us. As a result, scores of drivers were injured and our vehicles damages,” he said, adding, “Some of the drivers fled to Punjab border”.
Sofi said that some of the vehicles were completely damaged in the attacks carried out by rioters.
Fayaz Reshi, another driver said that Punjab police escorted them up to five kilometres inside the Jammu Kashmir border.
“Afterwards, we drove during midnight to ensure that nobody can attack us. However, the mobs confronted us even during the dead of night and pelted stones on us. The police and paramilitary personnel were watching as silent spectators and did not react,” he said.
The six drivers, who returned back after the horrible trip are finding it hard to come out of the trauma. “The drivers said that from Udhampur to Lakhanpur, Kashmiri drivers are not safe. There is no security at all and road has completely been taken over by the rightwing Hindu activists,” said the drivers.
They added, “We would not go back until there is settlement on the issue. We are really shocked to see things in Jammu”.