Srinagar, May 17: Two persons died and at least 15 got injured when a Police vehicle overturned during a clash between the followers of the two mainstream political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and the Peoples Conference [PC], in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, on Friday evening.
Informed sources in north Kashmir said that the workers of the two parties attacked each other at Warsun village when the PDP followers were celebrating their candidate Muzaffar Hussain Baig’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections in Baramulla-Kupwara constituency. The PC supporters, who were upset over their candidate Salamuddin Bajad's defeat, reportedly attacked the PDP victory revelers when they were returning to home.
High pitch slogans and extensive use of firecrackers reportedly ignited the group clash.
Informed sources said that 15 men were injured and later two died when a Police armoured vehicle overturned, hitting a number of the people during the clashes. Two of the critically injured were rushed to a Srinagar hospital.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in North Kashmir Ghulam Hassan Bhat confirmed the death of the two political activists. He told The Hindu that the Station House Office Inspector Tanvir was returning to Kralpora after defusing the crisis when a Police vehicle, evacuating the injured to a hospital, overturned in the melee. Two died and several got injured.
Ali Mohammad Choudhary, whose father Salamuddin Choudhary has been a prominent Congress activist and has lately joined the PDP, told The Hindu that Abdul Rashid Ganai and Abdul Rashid Bajad, both 4o-year-olds, were hit by the SHO’s Rakhshak and they died on the spot. He said that over 20 PDP men were injured when the PC workers, apparently angry over the victory celebrations, attacked them "without any provocation".
"When the SHO and the Dy SP were carrying the injured, their Rakshak driver was hit in the head in the stone pelting. He lost the control and his vehicle overturned”, Mr. Choudhary said.
Comments
Add new comment