The United Nations is reported to have asked the Indian authorities to stop riot-boffin Rapid Action Front (RAF) from wearing the distinctive powder-blue helmets of the UN peacekeeping force.
Last week, about 300 RAF jawans was brought in here to help the other security forces in quelling protests and mob violence and most of these wore the powder-blue helmets with “UN” written on them while patrolling the streets of Srinagar and other areas of the restive Valley.
It is reliably learnt that the Srinagar office of the United Nations Military Observers’ Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) had informed the UN headquarters in New York about the alleged “misuse” and also sent them local newspapers which carried photographs of the RAF in riot gear out on the streets of Srinagar and wearing the controversial helmets.
Meanwhile, about forty protesters were injured when police and CRPF fired live ammunition in different parts of Kashmir Valley on Wednesday when a curfew was being enforced in parts of Srinagar and the towns of Pampore, Kakapora, Pulwama and Sopore to hold back a “freedom’ rally planned by separatists at Pampore to commemorate the second death anniversary of slain People’s League leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.
He was killed in police firing on a “Muzaffarabad Chalo” march on this day in 2008.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the octogenarian separatist leader, had asked people to march on Pampore, the Sheikh’s hometown, to attend the proposed rally. But while curfew and other restrictions were imposed on different Valley areas, Mr Geelani was placed under house arrest to stop him from relocating to Pampore. Elsewhere in the, a general strike called by him brought life to a standstill for the third day-straight on Tuesday.
At Kreeri outside Baramulla town, thousands of people attended the funeral of local student, 9-year-old Syed Farrakh Bashir, allegedly killed in custody by the security forces.
However, prior to the funeral, security forces fired live ammunition to break up protests in the area overnight leaving three persons injured, reports said.