Shopian: Locals from South Kashmir’s Shopian district Thursday appealed authorities to stop soldiers from making them walk on foot outside their camps at Chowdarygund, Behibagh and Nagisharn areas of the district.
“It’s hell like situation here. People are being forced to walk on foot for half a kilometer and even elderly people are not being spared,” said a delegation from the district to news agency CNS.
They said it has become a routine for the soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles of Indian Army to drag passengers out from the vehicles and force them to walk on foot for half kilometer. “People even elderly ones are supposed to alight from the vehicle outside Chowdarygund army camp and walk on foot. This is not only harassment but humiliation as well,” they said.
They added that same holds true for other two areas including Behibagh and Nagisharan. “Here too army directs passengers to alight from the vehicles and make them walk. Passengers waste their precious time and face humiliation,” locals said.
The locals said that South Kashmir is back to 1990’s. “We have been witnessing massive security arrangements after Letpora attack. It’s really hell like situation in Shopian. We have been living on the mercy of God. Nobody from authorities are here to give a respite to people,” they said. (CNS)
