In a shocking incident, a CRPF personnel fired pellets at an ambulance driver, Ghulam Mohammad Sofi, who was ferrying a patient to the SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, reports The Indian Express.
Sofi was reportedly injured gravely but somehow managed to drive himself and the other patient to the hospital, where doctors informed that he had suffered over 200 pellet wounds and is currently in “very bad shape”.
CRPF spokesperson Rajesh Yadav told The Indian Express that the CRPF personnel has been suspended and a departmental action has been initiated. He added that the ambulance was given two warnings to stop and did not, resulting in the use of the pellet gun. But the spokesperson made it clear that the action was “quite unwarranted”.
Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 42nd day in the Valley which has been rocked by violence after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, PTI reported.
Curfew was on Friday extended to several places in Kashmir as a precautionary measure in view of the call for a march to Aripthan area of Budgam district given by separatists against the death of four civilians in clashes between CRPF and protesters there on August 16.
“Curfew has been extended to many towns including Aripathan and Magam areas in Budgam district to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, has extended the agitation till August 25. They had called for a march to Aripthan area of Budgam today.
Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off roads. The attendance in government offices was thin. Mobile internet and telephony services also remained suspended.
As many as 64 persons including two police personnel have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9.
(With inputs from PTI).
(Feature image source: Representational image | Twitter)