Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, March 4

Shopkeepers in Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s home town Bijbehara in Anantnag district today downed their shutters and blocked the national highway to protest the alleged high-handedness of Army men.Traders in the Goriwan market of Bijbehara alleged that Army men had been harassing people in the name of frisking and checking for some time now. Protesting shopkeepers said Army men allegedly thrashed a truck driver today for no fault of his.“They (Army men) have been letting loose sniffer dogs into our shops regularly in the name of so-called security. We cooperated, but now they have started beating innocent people,” shopkeepers said.The business community, joined by locals, today confronted Army men for beating the truck driver and blocked the traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They were later pacified by the police.“Yes, there was some altercation between shopkeepers and Army men. We pacified both parties. The locals were told to come and lodge a complaint but nobody has come forward as of now,” said SDPO, Bijbehara, Tanveer Ahmad.A spokesperson for the Army was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.