news details |
|
|
| Tension grips Samba after police-cattle smuggler nexus comes to fore | | ** Police teargas mob; ASP, duty magistrates among at least 40 hurt in clashes * Five trucks burnt, glass panes of several other vehicles broken | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 26:
As tension today gripped Samba over an alleged police-cattle smuggler nexus coming to the fore after people caught hold of a cattle thief, at least 40 persons, including an additional SP and some duty magistrates, sustained wounds in clashes between protesters and cops.
The angry people also set ablaze at least five trucks, stoned cops, besides smashing glass panes of several stranded vehicles and blocking the Jammu-Samba stretch of the national highway for over six hours. Section 144 was imposed in the town.
Divisional commissioner Pawan Kotwal and IGP, Dr Ashok Gupta had a tought time in dealing with the situation. They visited the spot where protesters had made the cattle thief captive and blocked the road. They had to leave the spot twice following slogans against them when they expressed their inability to either suspend, or transfer SSP, Samba, Raghubir Singh. The trouble started at about 2.30 am when Mukhtiar Ali (20), son of Saif Din of Chak Manga, Samba, and his accomplices clandestinely entered the house of Sohan Singh at Kaili Mandi and stole his cow and a calf.
While they were leaving the house, Sohan's son Anil Singh got up to attend the call of nature. When he saw four to five persons taking away their cow and calf, he immediately awoke his brothers and neighbours. They chased the cattle thieves for about 1 km. Police sources said when the latter reached Samba industrial estate where a truck was parked to transport the cattle to Kashmir, the villagers challenged them.
While others fled, Mukhtiar fell down while fleeing and was caught. He was then taken to Kaili Mandi and given a sound beating. At about 6 am, he was brought to the main Samba chowk and made to sit in the middle of the highway along with the protesters who were later joined by the activists of VHP, Shiva Sena and BJP. Within no time, over 5,000 people gathered there.
Sources said Mukhtiar allegedly told people that police were on the pay roll of cattle smugglers. He even named some police personnel posted in Samba district who had been taking Rs 1,000 per cattle from them for crossing the Samba police limits without being caught, the sources added. His this revelation raged the people and they raised anti-police slogans, demanding legal action against the SSP followed by his immediate transfer and probe into the matter. At 12 noon, the divisional commissioner and the IGP reached the spot and tried to pacify the angry people.
When they told the people that they did not have the authority to transfer SSP, they were asked to go back and send someone who possessed this power. As some youth started raising anti-police slogans, the duo left the spot and came to the office of Samba deputy commissioner (DC) Saurabh Bhagat where they had a meeting with prominent people of the area, including Hiranagar MLA Durga Dass and BJP leader Chander Prakash Ganga. The meeting continued for over two hours after which the divisional commissioner, IGP, Ganga, Durga Dass and others left for the spot at about 3 pm. Again an effort was made to pacify the people, but all in vain as they said their protest would end only after action was taken against the SSP.
Though Kotwal and Gupta assured them the suspension of SHO, Samba, and a probe into the matter, they refused. Both of them again returned to the DC office. Quoting eyewitnesses, sources said while the senior officers were talking to the people, additional SP Sanjay Kotwal entered into an argument with a youth. The situation took an ugly turn when Sanjay pushed the youth and someone hit him on the head with a stone. Bleeding profusely, the ASP was shifted to a nearby medical camp for treatment.
As one youth pelted stone on the ASP, several others started stoning other cops. Five to six cops were caught by some youth and given a severe beating while the others retreated towards Vijaypur. Taking advantage of the situation, Mukhtiar fled the spot. He was later admitted to the GMC hospital, Jammu, under police protection.
Sources said while retreating, cops also stoned the youth and the nearby buildings, breaking glass panes of several of them. Cops also fired dozens of teargas shells to chase away the protesters. At least 40 cops and demonstrators were injured in the clashes, the sources added.
Sources said at least five Kashmir-bound trucks, which were stranded on the highway, were set ablaze by the agitated people. They also smashed the glass panes of several other stranded vehicles. DC Bhagat, however, said only two trucks had been burnt. "Section 144 has been imposed as a preventive measure," he added.
Bhagat said apart from the ASP, some duty magistrates were also wounded in stone-pelting. He said a total of 18 cops were injured in clashes with demonstrators. Four of them were serious and had been referred to the GMC Hospital, Jammu. The DC said a peace committee meeting was on in Samba to defuse the situation. The meeting was being attended by CM's political advisor Devinder Rana and minister S S Salathia.
Sources said people were also up in arms against a minister, alleging that he was opposed to the SSP's transfer, or attachment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
