SRINAGAR: A curfew was imposed here April 27 and the Army and the paramilitary forces took over Control of the Srinagar police control room at Batmaloo where ) the Jammu and Kashmir DGP, B.S.Bedi, along with other senior police officials, had been held hostage by the agitating policemen. India on Wednesday announced withdrawal of curfew restrictions in Srinagar imposed in the wake of agitation by more than 5000 Kashmiri policemen who protested against the killing of one of their colleagues by the Indian security forces in its custody. India merely transferred the guilty officer to Jammu. The Kashmir policemen remained united all these days and did not budge in the face of threats of action by India. They staged demonstrations in Srinagar and condemned the Indian action against their colleague. According to reports, the loops took control of the complex after disarming the police demonstrators and rescued Bedi along with the IG, A.K.Suri.

According to earlier reports, the state government decided to take on the striking policemen Tuesday and the security forces opened fire in the air to disburse about 5,000 demonstrators comprising armed policemen and their civilian supporters, At least two policemen were injured in the firing, reports said. The precisionists, most of them carrying arms, later reassembled at the police control room complex where they were to hold a rally,

The security forces and the agitating policemen had reportedly taken positions against each other. The army, which had moved in and around the complex, was said to be equipped with heavy arms an armored vehicles. The entire area was cordoned off.

An official spokesman described the situation “tense but fully under control.”

So far, the government has transferred K Rajendra Kumar, SSP of Srinagar, in response to the policemen’s agitation, However, their other demands like reinstatement Of about 500 dismissed policemen and recognition of the police union have been flatly rejected by the authorities.

Rajendra Kumar is likely to be posted 48 SSP (Crime) in Jammu and his successor is yet to be found.

The paramilitary forces have blocked all entries into Srinagar and are checking all incoming vehicles to identify policemen on their way to joining their agitating colleagues.

Rajesh Pilot, Minister of State for Internal Security, flew in here Tuesday and immediately drove to Raj Bhavan. He discussed the situation with the Governor and senior state officials.

Meanwhile, policemen at the Srinagar Police Lines have been disarmed, The BSF has taken control of the area.

The Director General of Police had Tuesday issued a deadline for 1 p.m, on April 28 asking the striking personnel to resume duty by then, However, the policemen in a meeting resolved to continue the strike.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 30, 1993