| Kargil Councillor, supporters manhandle SHO Sonamarg | | | Early Times Report
Sonamarg, Mar 26: Protests rocked the tourist resort of Sonamarg on Monday after a top functionary of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil (LAHDC-K) allegedly roughed up the area SHO.
Witnesses said the trouble erupted after chairman Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali visited Zojila Pass and took stock of snow clearance operations on Srinagar-Kargil road.
After Ali's visit concluded, a senior councillor of LAHDC-K tried to move towards Kargil with his convoy of vehicles.
The SHO Sonamarg, Afaq Ahmed stopped the councillor, who some years ago joined a ruling party to get a pivotal chair in the LAHDC-K.
As the visiting dignitary remained reluctant to move ahead, the SHO confronted saying the road to Ladakh was yet to be formally thrown open by BEACON and that in the absence of proper permission he would not allow them to risk their lives on the risk-prone highway.
But the other party got annoyed and started abusing the police officer. In the meantime, some political supporters, who were accompanying the LAHDC-K functionary also joined in.
But in a bid to avoid any major controversy, the SHO asked his subordinates to maintain restrain.
While the policemen tried to downplay the matter, the locals who were witnessing the scene came out to say that when the Sonamarg residents are not allowed to drive to Kargil how could politicians be allowed before road opening.
"We have business stakes in Kargil and Ladakh but when police doesn't allow us to ply till the road is opened, why should the politicians enjoy any special privileged," the businessmen said while supporting the police official for discipline.
A senior police official posted in Central Kashmir while confirming the incident said that matter has come their notice.
Despite repeated attempts, the accused politician couldn't be contacted for comments.
Meanwhile, as per an official handout, Chairman Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali was informed that the road shall be opened for movement of light vehicles in a couple of days. The handout said CEC Kargil Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Haji Gulzar Hussain, SSP Kargil T Gyalpo, ADC Ganderbal, Deputy SP Traffic Ganderbal, officers of Project Vijayak and Beacon besides officers of Civil and Police Administration accompanied the Chairman. |
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