Srinagar
At least 40 traders from Kashmir on Saturday closed their eight shops at Kashmiri Bazaar on Budh Marg and decided to leave for their native places after a mob allegedly attacked them with sticks and rods inside the market on Friday and threatened them to leave the city, Times of India reported.
According to a report published by Times of India said that at least four Kashmiri traders were injured in the state. One of the traders, Mazid Ahmed, was seriously injured. However, his condition is stated to be out of danger. Police forces were deployed at the market after the incident.
Bashir Ahmed Wani, one of the traders, told TOI over the phone on Saturday that they were from Anantnag district and it was for the first time they faced such a situation in the city in last 35 years.
“We are now planning to return as the shopkeepers are in fear after Friday’s attack. They don’t want to business here anymore,” he said.
“At least 30 motorcycle-borne youth barged into the market and started attacking us. The attackers abused us and threatened us to leave the city immediately,” the report quoted Wani as having said, adding the mob also ransacked their shops.
Wani said the Kashmiri traders generally stay in Patna till mid-March. “This time, we have decided to leave soon,” he added.
The report quoted City SP (central) D Amarkesh as having said an FIR was lodged against unknown people with Kotwali police station in connection with the incident. “Efforts are on to identify the attackers and arrest them,” he added.
Courtesy Times of India
