At least six people, including three policemen were injured Saturday in clashes in Bugam area of Kulgam, where angry protesters attacked a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member parliament and set on fire a vehicle belonging to his close aide.Eyewitnesses told Srinagar based news gathering agency Global News Agency that the cavalcade of PDP’s Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmad Laway was attacked by a group of youth with rocks when he was on way to the government higher secondary school Bugam in Kulgam district to attend a function. While Laway managed to get into the school with the help of his security guards, the protesters engaged the policemen escorting the MP in pitched battles.The police, witnesses said burst numerous tear smoke shells to disperse the stone throwing youth. However, the youth regrouped and continued renewed assaults on the policemen.
“The cops also fired several shots in air after being pelted heavily by the youth. At one time, the protesters even tried to barge into the school. They were furious over the presence of the pro-India leader in their village,” Ghulam Rasool Dar, a witness said.“This village is known for pro-freedom sentiment. And the youth had learnt about the visit of PDP leader earlier. They had cautioned the school authorities not to allow the pro-India leader but no heed was paid to them. This made them to fume in anger,” he added.Another witness said that the MP and the higher officials of the education department, including CEO Kulgam Ghulam Rasool Shah, his deputy Bashir Ahmad Bhat and the Principal government higher secondary school Bugam Muzaffar Ahmad and his staff members were rescued by the police after being confined to the four walls of the school by the agitated protesters.
Angry youth also torched two vehicles (JK02B-1829 and JK22-4260) belonging to Mubarak Ahmad Bhat of Bugam and Tauseef Ahmad of Tarigam. Both of them are said to be PDP workers and close aides of Laway.According to witnesses the clashes continued till late evening leaving at least six people, half of them cops, injured. One of the injured has been identified as Nadim Farooq Dar, a student of 2th standard at the school. A youth identified as Mohammad Shafi Wani was also arrested during the clashes.Meanwhile, a police official told GNS that the political rivalry was believed to have triggered the clash in Bugam.He said that a case Fir No 134/2015 under sections 147, 148, 149,336, 427 and 307 RPC has been registered and further investigations started. (GNS)