DGP Kuldeep Khoda blames Hurriyat (G) for Monday’s violence

SRINAGAR - Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda has accused Hurriyat Conference (G) of inciting violence in the Kashmir Valley.

“Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s close aide, Imtiyaz Haider had made plans to provoke people to assemble at various places across Kashmir. We arrested 52 people most of them are either affiliated with Hurriyat (G) or Muslim League,” Khoda told a news conference here.

He said that government has a bounden duty to protect life and property of the people. Large scale of violence was carried out as a result of the alleged desecration of the holy Quran, which has been condemned by the government already.

Khoda, who was flanked by Principal Secretary Home, B R Sharma, Additional Director General of Police, K Rajendra and Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, S. M. Sahai said that police had to resort firing to control the violent mob at various places in the valley in which 13 persons died and 45 got injured.

He said one policeman also died in Budgam while 113 police personnel received injuries, 41 of them including Superintendent of Police Bandipore have sustained grievous injuries. He said the SP Bandipore had to be airlifted to Srinagar for treatment.

Khoda said that one branch of Tyndale Biscoe school building was set ablaze in Tangmarg besides Tehsildar’s official residence, Treasury office, court office, veterinary office, Patwar Khana were also burnt.

Principal Secretary Home B. R. Sharma said that the Cabinet, which met here today, has also condemned the alleged desecration of the holy Quran.

“The Cabinet has unanimously appealed to the people to maintain calm and do not take law into their hands,” he added. (ANI)