January 13, 2025 04:52 am (IST)
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Kashmir: 7 persons including a pregnant lady die in accident
Srinagar, July 17 (IBNS) : In a tragic road accident, seven persons including a pregnant lady was killed on Wednesday due to head on collision between an Army recovery van and a Tavera passenger vehicle near Shah Villayat Colony Omar Abad area of Zainakot in Srinagar.
The accident triggered protests and panic in the area while the Army allegedly resorted to firing after locals came out on roads to protest against the force.
Eyewitnesses said that the soon after the collision when locals found the dead bodies inside the Tavera vehicle (JK01P-1464), they lost control and thrashed the ‘erring’ army driver Krishan Kumar mercilessly.
In a bid to save their driver from the wrath of local protesters, Army personnel from 51 RR resorted to intense aerial firing.
“It was only after the bullet shots fired by Army in air that protesters left the erring army driver,” an eyewitness said.
Eyewitnesses said that out of 9 persons including driver on board in Tavera that was heading towards North Kashmir’s Sopore town, three people died on spot while rest of the six persons were immediately rushed to nearby hospital for treatment. However, by evening, the death toll reached to seven.
Police identified the dead as Muhammad Rafiq Untoo resident of Dugliteng, Baramulla, Nazir Ahmad Mir resident of Mamkak, Sopore, Peer Zada Mohammad Syed resident of Sopore, Muhammad Ramzan Mir resident of Sopore, Ghulam Nabi Dar resident of Krankshivan, Sopore, Ghulam Hassan Bhat resident of Dangerpora Baramulla and Zarefa wife of Ashiq Hussain resident of Dever Pattan.
Sources said that Zarefa was pregnant and was expecting a baby next month.
The two injured persons Ashiq Hussain Malik resident of Dever Pattan and Sheikh Zahid resident of Sopore were shifted to the hospital for treatment.
Reports said that soon after the Army recovery van (013854w) collided with the passenger vehicle, locals in large numbers cornered the spot of accident while the army personnel fled from the spot and stayed away from the angry crowd.
It was only after people thrashed army driver, that his colleagues who had taken positions far away from the spot resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
Top police officials including SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar rushed to the spot. There was complete chaos and confusion.
The clashes that erupted between government forces and locals disrupted traffic for hours. Police fired tear-smoke shells to disperse the angry protesters. The clashes according to reports continued for hours. Police imposed restrictions to diffuse the situation.
Station House Officer Parimpora Muhammad Ayoub told IBNS that police has already registered a case in this regard. “We have arrested the army driver Krishan Singh and he is in our lockup,” he said adding that Army vehicle has also been seized.
Meanwhile, in North Kashmir’s Sopora town, people observed a complete shutdown in wake of the accident as most of the victims belonged to the town.
Large number of youth assembled on roads and fought pitched battles with government forces.
Eyewitnesses said as the bodies of victims were taken to their native areas, youth in large numbers amid anti-India and anti-army slogans resorted to stone-pelting and targeted policemen deployed on roads.
Earlier, soon after the accident, Hurriyat G Chairman Syed Ali Geelani issued a statement appealing people to observe a shutdown on Thursday and hold peaceful protests on Friday against the Israeli aggression and Zainakot road accident.
Army in a statement said that it regrets the unfortunate loss of lives and conveys deepest condolences to the families. “The accident is under investigation and all possible assistance will be provided to the Police in their inquiry."
(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
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