Massive protests in J&K assembly over curfew in Lolab

Jammu: The situation in Lolab Valley post Monday's killing of seven militants by security forces rocked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today with opposition PDP MLAs staging protests, a sit-in and a walkout, alleging the government had mishandled the issue.

As soon as the House assembled today, PDP members and Independent MLA Engineer Rasheed Ahmed trooped into the Well and started shouting anti-government slogans.

They claimed that the state government had imposed curfew in the Lolab Valley of north Kashmir's Kupwara district after mishandling the situation.

Representational image: PTI

Lashing out at the government for "unleashing terror" on the people who had gone to the local police station to know the identity of the slain ultras, PDP MLA Abdul Haq Khan sought the government's response on the matter.

Alleging that the government had imposed curfew and restrictions in Lolab Valley and the people were not being allowed to move freely, the PDP members staged a sit-in in the Well of the House.

Following direction from Speaker Mubarak Gul, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo told the House that a large number of people had yesterday gathered outside the police station and some miscreants resorted to stone pelting.

The mob had set afire a security bunker and damaged several police vehicles following which police used tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters, the minister said.

No protester was injured in the administration's action, but 16 policemen were injured in stone-pelting, Kitchloo said, adding that no curfew has been imposed in the area. The authorities have imposed restriction under section 144 of the CrPC to bring the situation under control, he said.

Unsatisfied with the reply, PDP members staged a walkout from the House. PDP MLA Khan, who represents the Lobal segment in the Assembly, said the government had "bitterly failed" to handle the situation post the killings.

"The people wanted to known who were the people killed in the encounter and hand gone to the area. But police used brute force resulting in outbreak of such a situation forcing the authorities to impose curfew," Khan said.

PTI