Ashiq Hussain
SRINAGAR, Nov 01: Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case of robbery and assault against army after complaints from some drivers plying on Srinagar-Baramulla highway in North Kashmir. Police said that the FIR was registered under Randhir penal Code section 392(robbery), 341(wrongful restraint) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) in Northern town of Baramulla, some 50 km from summer capital Srinagar.
A police official said they received complaints from some drivers travelling through Singbagh area of the town accusing army of stopping their vehicles and beating the travelers.
“Actually there is a check-post of army in the area. And we received complaints that in between 3:00 am to 4:30 am on Wednesday morning, the army men unnecessarily stopped vehicles and beat the drivers,” said the official.
“In-fact some of the vehicles which crossed the area during the time period were government vehicles. Some travelers working in a gas agency were travelling towards Srinagar. There were also allegations by some drivers that their money was snatched by the army men,” the official stated.
Army, however, downplayed the issue. “Something minor has happened and there was nothing which is worth taking notice,” said army spokesman, Colonel Brijesh Pandey.
(Author is correspondent, Hindustan Times)
