News Analysis India

Tag: Hari Singh High Street

  • Seven injured in grenade attack by terrorists in Srinagar’s Hari Singh High street

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  At least seven civilians were injured when terrorists lobbed a grenade at a vehicle belonging to paramilitary forces at Hari Singh High street in Srinagar on Tuesday.

    While the injured were shifted to the nearby SMHS hospital, a combined search for the terrorists was launched by the police, CRPF and SSB.

    The attack took place despite heightened security in Srinagar as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was present in the city and had earlier addressed party workers in Congress headquarters here.

    A few hours after the grenade attack, police claimed to have arrested a journalist, Adil from Pampore in Pulwama, along with two grenades in the heart of the city.

    “#Journo-#terrorist Adil from Pampore Pulwama #arrested along with 02 #grenades in the heart of #Srinagar City. More arrests are expected. #Investigation going on. Further details shall follow,” tweeted Kashmir police from its official handle.

    Meanwhile, J&K police chief Dilbagh Singh said 57 Kashmiri youth, who travelled to PoK in 2017-18 on valid visas, have joined terrorists and 17 of them have been killed in encounters.

    “They joined terror groups there. Among them, 17 infiltrated in the Valley and were killed in various encounters while 13 are still active in Kashmir,” he said.

  • Srinagar: Pheran caught in crossfire of security lens, right-wing tirade

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: After the February 19 militant attack in Srinagar in which a militant wearing a pheran shot dead two policemen, security personnel are at times asking civilians to remove the traditional cloak and pack it. 

    The Bajrang Dal and some voices from the BJP are calling for a ban on the use of pheran, but the saffron party says the call should be taken by security forces.

    There have been instances even in Lal Chowk and Hari Singh High Street where pheran wearers have been asked to remove their cloak for security reasons. 

    IG CRPF Srinagar sector Charu Sinha clarified that security personnel do frisking but there is no need to remove the pheran.

    “Security is tightened but insulting anybody is not the intention,” she said,  adding there has been no direction from authorities to men on ground to force civilians to remove their pheran during the frisking.

    Bajrang Dal leader Rakesh Bajrangi claimed 99 per cent grenade attacks in Kashmir have been carried out by those wearing pheran. 

    BJP leader Abhijeet Jasrotia also backed the call to ban the pheran. “Nothing is more precious than the lives of soldiers and policemen. … It should be banned in public places and government offices.”

    However, Kashmiris strongly oppose any attempt to ban the pheran, saying it is the identity of their culture. “We even wore it when militancy was at its peak. We have not given it up and nor will give it up,” National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said.