Indian forces take over marriage halls in Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Nov 04 (SABAH): The Indian paramilitary forces following the order of additional deployment of 5000 troops of the Central Reserve Paramilitary Forces (CRPF) in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, have taken over many marriage halls in Srinagar.

According to the reports, during the past two days, CRPF had occupied marriage halls in Shatrashahi, Illahi Bagh, areas of Srinagar city and have also done recce in the Barbarshah, Nowshera and other areas.

The Indian government has ordered the deployment of an additional 5000 (50 companies) troops of the CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the recent spate of civilian killings last month.

Local residents in Shatrashahi area told media that the CRPF came on Monday and visited the marriage hall. Next day, on Tuesday, a fleet of trucks along with the troops took over the building.

“We live in a very congested area and to have a presence of CRPF in the locality will be uncomfortable for us to carry out our daily work,” said Azi, a 50-year-old resident. “I have daughters at home, how will they move out, especially during dark hours,” he added.

The President of the Coordination Committee of Shatrashahi Housing Colony, Shabir Raja, told media that nobody informed them about the CRPF over taking the marriage hall in their locality.

“We were surprised to see the presence of large troops in our locality. We are not against the deployment of troops in the city but they should be accommodated at a place where there is less residential population,” he added.