Water scarcity protest turns violent in Kashmir; several hurt

PSOs of BJP leaders injured; probe underway

Baramulla: A clash broke out between police and some people who were protesting against the shortage of drinking water in Baramulla district on Friday, officials said.
The personal security officers of BJP leaders were also injured when protesters resorted to stone pelting.
The protest was held on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway in Mirgund locality of Pattan, they said.
An official said that protestors resorted to stone pelting and in response police had to fire tear smoke shells and laathi charge to disperse the mob.
He said the residents had blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway at Chainbal Pattan, thus leading to a halt of traffic movement.
"In the incident, several people (commuters) including the PSOs of two BJP leaders received injuries and vehicles were damaged, following stone pelting by the angry mob," he said.
Residents accused the Jal Shakti Department of failing to provide them with adequate water supply for the last four years. "Authorities hardly bother to redress our issue," said a resident.
The residents said they brought the matter to the notice of the concerned and took to the streets several times but to no avail.
"We are being forced to drink contaminated water supply from the other sources, which has taken a huge toll on their health," another local said.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure visited the site to pacify the protestors.
He urged them to stop violence and assured them that their concerns were being taken seriously. "Your demands are genuine. Both you and I cannot survive without water. Let's resolve this through dialogue," he addressed the crowd via loudspeaker.
Amod said the aggrieved people had blocked the highway for a couple of hours, which resulted in the blockade of traffic including the emergency services. To disperse the protestors, police had to use the force, he said.
"Though their demands are genuine, they resorted to violence and stone pelting, which damaged vehicles. I have given them an assurance that the matter will be taken up with the higher-up for early redressal," he said. "We are with the people. Police, administration and locals always go hand in hand and will remain."
The SSP, however, added, "We will initiate an inquiry into the injuries and damage due to stone pelting and minimum action will be taken. We won't let any youth suffer; it's not our motive."
He urged the people to register their protests in a democratic and peaceful way. "Violence is never a solution to anything; it only leads to destruction," the police officer added.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa also visited the protest site. He was accompanied by the Chief Engineer Jal Shakhti, SDM and other officials from the civil and police.
The DC said that the Chainbal area is a water deficit area. "Since it's a tail-end area, there lies an overall deficiency of water supply. WSS Parihaspora, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore is meant to resolve the water supply crises in the deficit areas," he said.
He said that almost 75% work of the scheme has been completed and within 6-7 months completion is expected. As of now, water tankers will be deputed to the areas that are facing the crises besides, that village with existing supplies will be diverted to meet the ends with proper argumentation, he said.
The DC said the issue related to the water will be resolved once and for all. We won't let people suffer especially in the ongoing month of Muharram, he said.
On police action, Sherpa said the matter will be looked into and properly investigated as to what led to the escalation of the situation.