Amarnath row: 2 cops lynched, PM seeks Advani’s opinion

Police lobbed teargas shells to quell stone-throwing protesters in Maisuma locality where the youth was killed on Monday after being hit by a teargas shell.

While four persons were wounded during clashes and tear gassing, one person was injured when he was hit by a stone in Budhshah Chowk area where protesters and police fought a pitched battle, official sources said.

Police also tear gassed protesters in Nowhatta and Chanapora localities of the city, they said. All the injured have been admitted to SMHS hospital.

Srinagar wore a deserted look as schools, colleges, shops and business establishments remained closed in major areas in the wake of the violence. Police reports said that there was tension in Sopore, Baramulla, Anantnag and Pulwama areas in the Valley.

Meanwhile, a magisterial inquiry was ordered into the police firing in Jammu region’s Samba district in which two persons were killed and 18 others were injured during a protest rally on the Amarnath issue on Monday.

The probe will investigate what prompted police led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhat Singh to open fire without magisterial orders, Samba District Magistrate Surav Bhagat said on phone.

The probe was ordered in the wake of allegations by the Shri Amarnath Sangrash Samiti (SASS) that the SSP took a rifle from his personal security officer after being hit by a stone and fired on the protestors. The Samiti has demanded dismissal of the SSP and his immediate arrest.

Inspector General of Police, R K Saxena said a CRPF jawan fired a few rounds in the air, but no one died in that firing.

“The firing on protestors was resorted to by the police team led by the SSP,” he claimed.

In Srinagar, protesters poured onto the streets decrying the death of the 22-year-old youth Asif Mehraj during the protests on Monday. They attacked police posts and vehicles in several areas in the city.

Mehraj was among the group of people in Maisuma who were agitating over the ‘economic blockade’ of the valley by Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti.

At least 31 persons including 14 security force personnel were injured in the clashes between protestors and police on Monday.

PM, Sonia seek opinion from Advani

With the protests over the revocation of land to Amarnath shrine board refusing to die down, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sought the opinion of Leader of Opposition L K Advani on the issue.

Singh and Gandhi, alongwith External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had the discussion with Advani on the issue during the state dinner hosted for visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Monday.

“Advaniji told PM and Sonia Gandhi that some corrective measures were required to bring the situation back to normal,” a senior BJP MP said.

‘Corrective measures’ was a reference to taking back of the land revocation order, the MP said.

Advani reportedly told the three leaders that the current situation was a result of ‘government’s pandering to the separatist forces’.

The Leader of Opposition is said to have suggested that the Union Govt should discuss the matter with the Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti — which is spearheading the agitation – to find a solution.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has called an all-party meeting on Wednesday to find a solution to the Amarnath agitation, which has thrown life out of gear in the Jammu region since it started nearly 35 days ago.

Singh had invited Advani to his residence last week to discuss the Amarnath issue, alongwith internal security and other matters. This was followed by a telephone call from Sonia Gandhi to BJP president Rajnath Singh to discuss the same issue.