HMT: Local MLA says, ‘No Need of CRPF Camp’

Riyaz Ul Khaliq

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

As people are protesting against the “expansion” of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) camp at HMT in Srinagar outskirts, the local MLA said that there is no need of the camp in the area.

Speaking to Kashmir Life from winter capital Jammu, Sheikh Noor Muhammad who is a ruling PDP’s MLA Batamaloo, said, “the camp was meant for the security of HMT factory which is almost defunct now and there is no need of the forces personnel.”

Noor Muhammad said that the Home department of J&K Government is working on his representation which he made against the continuation of the CRPF camp in the area.

The demand for removal of the CRPF got shriller after a local engineering youth, Gowhar Nazir Dar, lost his life in forces action on the day PM Narendra Modi visited valley on November 07. The family and locals blamed the CRPF personnel camping inside the HMT factory for the death. A magisterial enquiry is under way ascertaining the cause of the death.

“Recently, locals of the area again approached me and we have also made a representation to District Commissioner Srinagar against the continuation of the CRPF camp,” the MLA informed.

The locals of the area are protesting against what they said “expansion” of the Camp to the nearby cricket ground. “The CRPF personnel have laid barbed wire around a portion of the cricket ground which borders the HMT factory complex,” the witnesses said.

The locals had blocked the busy Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road early today. The road has been cleared for the vehicular movement, reports reaching said as this report was being prepared.

However, locals told Kashmir Life that the forces personnel have entered into the locality. “The police and CRPF men have started beating the locals and are damaging the property,” the locals alleged.

As Kashmir Life tried to seek progress about the representation made by the locals of Zainakote from DC Srinagar he was flying back to Kashmir from winter capital.

When contacted, political analyst in CM’s office, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, said, “we will take up matter with IGP CRPF and the matter will be resolved amicably.”

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