Armed Assailant Causes Chaos at Geelani’s Rally in Kashmir

Srinagar: A chaotic scene unfolded Friday when witnesses observed an unknown man being beaten and thrashed around by locals during a rally honoring veteran resistance leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Sopore town of north Kashmir.

Reports said panic swept through the Iqbal Market, Sopore when locals became aware of an unidentified person who was allegedly armed with a pistol during the afternoon congregation which was being addressed by the octogenarian leader. Reports said that local residents raised a hue and cry about the unknown man being an ‘agent’.

Angry youth thrashed and beat the unidentified man to a pulp. Angry locals also tore the clothes of the unknown man before the police reached the spot and rescued him. The unknown man was rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment.

However, the police have filed a case against the unknown attackers for assaulting the youth from Rajasthan state.

The Superintendent of police (SP) Sopore, Imtiyaz Hussain, said: “We have filed an FIR against these men under the section of attempt to murder. They have been identified.”

“The identity of the non-local youth is yet to be ascertained and further investigation is going on,” he added.

But sources said the non-local, Naik Kamlesh Kumar, belongs to ‘Military Intelligence’ and was caught while covering Geelani’s congregation as part of his duty. Sources said locals confiscated a camera and a service revolver from the MI official.

Syed Irfan Aziz, from Sopore, a small town in North Kashmir, India, is currently Executive Editor of the Daily English newspaper INSIDE KASHMIR and is a freelance News Producer in electronic media.