Hardline Hurriyat Conference has claimed to have foiled an “assassination bid” on its chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani after a mob caught and almost lynched an army man in civvies who was carrying a pistol during separatist rally in apple rich town of Sopore in north Kashmir.
Geelani was addressing a public rally in Sopore when the incident occurred. Hurriyat said people got suspicious about the man and asked him to prove his identity.
During his body search a pistol was found on him besides the identity card proved that he was from the army intelligence wing, Hurriyat sources said. As the word about his being the army man spread, people pounced on him and tore apart his clothes and severely thrashed him causing him serious injuries.
Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat said, “We condemn the presence of an armed personal during public gathering. There was a possibility that he could have made a bid on Geelani’s life and disrupted the rally which was peaceful”, Ayaz said.
However, the police and the army rubbished the claims of the Hurriyat that he was sent to make an assassination bid on ageing hawk.
A defence spokesman said the army man was sent to the Sopore to collect information about the presence of the militants in Geelani’s rally on Friday. Also, the spokesman said an FIR has been lodged against the miscreants.
“A covert team of army and J&K police was sent to Sopore town on getting information of presence of terrorists in Geelani’s rally. One of the army persons was beaten up by the mob. His service pistol, identity card and mobile were snatched by the mob”, he said.
The defence spokesman said reliable inputs were received from sources regarding the likely presence of terrorists including Sohail alias Akash alias Badar, of Lashkar-e-Tioba during the rally of Geelani in Sopore town.
“An operation was planned and the area was put under discreet surveillance to identify the individual. Covert teams of police and army were deployed to track the move of terrorists”, he said.
The defence spokesman said at 3.30 pm Friday one of the teams which was 150 meters away from the gathering was assaulted by a mob which was leaving the area.
“The team exercised restraint and did not open fire in order to prevent collateral damage. In the ensuing melee, one service person was isolated and surrounded by a group of 10-12 individuals. Thereafter the crowd swelled to more than 100 and assaulted the jawan. He recieved injuries and was shifted to 92 base hospital”, he said.
