Case registered against security forces in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) A case has been registered in Pulwama police station in south Kashmir against security force personnel for committing excesses.

Bashir Ahmad, a driver by profession, alleged that he was on way to Srinagar from Shopian along with passengers when security forces stopped him near a camp at Pulwama yesterday.

He alleged security force personnel hit him with rifle butts, sticks and kicked him before asking any question in presence of large number of people.

Later, he was allowed to go after the passengers intervened.

Bashir later lodged a complaint with the police against the security personnel.

He said that security force personnel deployed in the area were forcing drivers to take them to far flung areas without paying them.

However, the drivers who refuse are being tortured and beaten up in the camps, he said.

The taxi operators unions operating in the south Kashmir said a number of drivers were arrested after they refused to take the security personnel to far flung areas for conducting operations.

A driver was recently killed in north Kashmir after militants attacked the security force personnel travelling in his vehicle, they said.

The union leaders have decided to approach the Corps commander so that this illegal practice is stopped. However, they said that they are ready to take the security force personnel to any area provided the vehicle is properly hired by them ( security personnel).

UNI BAS YA KN1457