Four police officials injured by Gref officials in Kargil

Kargil, July 20 (UNI) Life in Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, remained paralysed today as people took to streets after Gref officials and labourers attacked a police party injuring Station House Officer (SHO) and four others.

Official sources said trouble started late last night after a police party headed by SHO inspector Sharp Tsewang seized diesel, kerosene oil and petrol being sold by the Gref officials illegally to driver in the main chowk.

Later police registered FIR NO14/2007 U/S 409/380 against the officials. However, when this morning the SHO alongwith a police party went to lodge a complaint with the concerned Gref officer, they were allegedly attacked with lathis and iron rods by the officials and labourers.

The SHO received head injury after he was hit with an iron rod, the sources said.

Supporting the police's action, the people at Drass took to streets and protested against the Gref officials and labourers demanding stern action against them for attacking the police party.

To avoid any major clash between the locals and Gref officials, police fired about five rounds in the air to disperse them.

Gref is responsible for the maintenance of the Srinagar-Leh national highway from Drass to Zojila pass.

The demonstrators demanded immediate shifting of the camp from the main bazar of Drass.

Senior police and civil officials rushed from Kargil to Drass to control the situation, the sources said.

Police has reportedly taken into custody 41 labourers and an engineer Sant Kumar for attacking the police party.

Later, on the assurance from the administration, shopkeepers reopened their shops.

UNI