Mobs attack Muslims in Zanskar, youth injured

Zanskar, May 9: Police arrested at least three miscreants after frenzied mob of a particular community attacked a group of Muslims, injuring a youth critically, in Zanskar area of Kargil in Ladakh.
 Eyewitnesses told CNS that the mob attacked a group of Muslim youth near Uffti village when the latter was on way home. “A youth named Amanullah suffered serious injuries as the mob stripped him and thrashed him mercilessly,” a resident of Zanskar told CNS, adding the administration is mulling to airlift the injured youth for treatment in Srinagar or Jammu.
 The father of the injured youth said his son was attacked by unruly mob without any provocation. “How long will this continue and how long government will wait to provide us security,” he said.
 A large number of Muslims took to streets in Padum after the news about the attack spread in the town. Police swung into action and sealed all roads to prevent clashes between the two communities.
 The relations between the majority community and Muslims in Zanskar witnessed deep strain after 22 members of four families embraced Islam in 2012. Since then, the majority community is on complete boycott with the Muslims residing in main Padum town.
 An administrative official in Zanskar told CNS that situation is tense but under control. “We have taken all possible measures to maintain law and order in the division,” he said.
 When contacted, Superintendent of Police Kargil, Sujit Kumar, told CNS that police have registered a case against three persons involved in the attack. “There is no need to airlift him as the youth is out of danger. We have arrested three persons in this connection and a case vide FIR number 2/2014 under section 323, 147 of RPC has been registered against them,” Kumar said.
 Chief Executive Councilor, Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council, Asghar Ali Karbalai told CNS that top police officials are on the job and the situation has been brought under control. “We want both the communities to live in peace and harmony as they used to live in past,” he said. CNS