Doda tense as NC leader’s kin attacks yatra drummers

Our Correspondent

Doda, July 1

The minority community in Doda town today protested the alleged inaction of the police and the district administration to arrest a culprit who allegedly thrashed drummers of the Trishul Bhaint yatra.

The yatra remained suspended for over five hours in the town.

Protesters said Hamid Suharwardy, relative of National Conference leader Khalid Najib Suharwardy, allegedly thrashed drummers and used abusive language this morning when they were preparing to take out the Trishul Bhaint yatra, creating tension in the town.

Pilgrims, including women, from various parts of the district protested outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here and burnt tyres on the road. They demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Annoyed over inaction of the police and the administration, the protesters raised slogans against the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Doda, Doda Deputy Commissioner and Member of Legislative Assembly Shakti Raj Parihar.

Chairman, Machail Yatra Samiti, Chuni Lal Thakur said: “It is unfortunate that the police and the district administration have failed to arrest the troublemaker, who is a criminal. He is a threat to communal harmony. Every year, he tries to find a way to disturb the yatra.”

“Last year, he thrashed the organisers of the yatra, but the police took no action. This time, he attacked our drummers in front of dozens of policemen, including senior police officers, but they remained mute spectators,” he alleged.

Later, the people from the majority community also staged a protest for about half an hour over the alleged objectionable slogans raised by the protesters from the minority community.

They also demanded strict action against those who tried to disturb communal harmony and brotherhood in the town.

Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Bhupinder Kumar and SSP Zahid Manhas tried to pacify the protesters and resolved the matter amicably.

The officers assured strict action against the person who thrashed the drummers of the yatra.

“A manhunt is on to arrest the culprit. We have registered a case against him under Sections 295 A and 296 of the RPC at the police station concerned and the investigation is on,” the SSP said.

Around 3 pm, the Trishul Bhaint yatra was flagged off peacefully under the strict cordon of the police and the CRPF from the Dak Bungalow in Doda. A large number of Muslims participated in the yatra to give a message of communal harmony and brotherhood.