- India calls in ‘Black Cats’ to quell riots in occupied Kashmir
SRINAGAR: At least four people were killed and dozens injured as a result of Indian forces’ atrocities in held Kashmir on Friday.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, Indian troops opened fire on a house during a cordon and search operation in Srigufwara area of the Islamabad district, critically injuring the owner of the house, Muhammad Yousuf Rathar, and his wife, Hafeeza Begum.
The injured were shifted to sub-district hospital Bijbehara for treatment. However, Rathar was pronounced dead upon arrival while Hafeeza was shifted to Soura Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar for further treatment.
The troops also killed three youth and destroyed a house during the operation. The operation in the area was conducted after an Indian policeman was killed and two troops were injured in an attack.
The search operation and subsequent killings provoked massive protests in the area.
INDIA CALLS IN COMMANDOS TO CURB PROTESTS: Meanwhile, India has called in commandos of the elite National Security Guard, a special forces unit under the Home Ministry, to quell the ongoing freedom movement in the disputed region.
According to the KMS, the commandos often referred to in the media as Black Cats because of the black outfit and black cat insignia, can be seen training at the Border Security Force camp at Humhaha near Srinagar. About two dozen snipers from the NSG’s house intervention teams (HIT commandos) have been training at the camp for the last two weeks.
The NSG commandos, whose presence in occupied Kashmir was announced last month by the Indian Home Ministry, will soon be deployed during cordon and search operations in the held valley. Officials said that the presence of NSG commandos would help reduce casualties among Indian forces, particularly against the backdrop of India’s plans to intensify the operations.
The occupied territory was this week placed under Governor’s Rule after the BJP pulled out of its coalition with Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party. Kashmir Police Director General SP Vaid, had said in a recent interview that the cordon and search operations, which had been put on hold during the Ramadan ceasefire, were being scaled up.
With additional input from PPI
