Pahalgam observes shutdown over CRPF-taxi drivers row

Srinagar, Jun30: Residents of Pahalgam today observed a shutdown over the alleged high handedness of CRPF personnel, who went on a rampage following an altercation with taxi drivers at Chandanwari camp.





All the business establishments in Pahalgam, the base camp for ongoing Amarnath yatra, downed their shutters as soon as the word of CRPF personnel thrashing the drivers reached there, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Anantnag, R K Jalla said that some “miscreants” took advantage of the misunderstanding between the drivers and the CRPF personnel and created law and order problem by pelting stones.

“We have registered a case and started investigations.

The situation is now back to normal,” Jalla said.  According to sources, an altercation broke out between CRPF personnel and taxi drivers at Chandanwari, 10 km from Pahalgam base camp, over repeated security frisking of the vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims.

CRPF jawans thrashed one driver which was resented by other drivers, leading to clashes.

The drivers started pelting stones at the CRPF personnel, who allegedly went on a rampage by smashing window panes of 15 vehicles including that of the SHO Pahalgam police station,the sources said