‘Crowd fired at security personnel’

Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta on Monday said two incidents of firing from within the crowds assembled at different parts of Valley had strengthened suspicions that militant organisations might be trying to take advantage of the tension to regroup and indulge in violence. “In Hajan in Bandipora district, two policemen and two CRPF personnel were injured in the firing originating from the crowd. The security forces, which had exercised maximum restraint till then, had to retaliate with some firing before the crowd dispersed,” Gupta said. In another incident in Beerwah in Budgam district, there was an attempt by the people to attack the security forces, he added. Some people also fired in the air because of which a woman got injured. An empty AK-47 shell was recovered from the spot later, he added.

All this, he said, pointed to the possibility that militant elements were trying to take advantage of the crowds. The Home Secretary said it was also because of reasons like this that the Valley had been put under curfew. “One can understand when there are reasons for the people to assemble. But there is no logic for gathering in public places without any valid reason,” he said.