Water scarcity protest turns violent in Baramulla, several injured

Baramulla, Jul 19: Police on Friday resorted to laathi charge and tear smoke shelling after a water scarcity protest at Chainbal Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district turned violent. Several people received injuries, with political leaders seeking accountability for police action on protestors.
An official said that protestors resorted to stone pelting and in response police had to fire tear smoke shells and laathi charge to disperse the mob.
He said the residents had blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway at Chainbal Pattan, thus leading to a halt of traffic movement. “In the incident, several people (commuters) including the PSOs of two BJP leaders received injuries and vehicles were damaged, following stone pelting by the angry mob,” he said.
Residents accused the Jal Shakti Department of failing to provide them with adequate water supply for the last four years. “Authorities hardly bother to redress our issue,” said a resident.
The residents said they brought the matter to the notice of the concerned and took to the streets several times but to no avail. “We are being forced to drink contaminated water supply from the other sources, which has taken a huge toll on their health,” another local said.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure visited the site to pacify the protestors. He urged them to stop violence and assured them that their concerns were being taken seriously. “Your demands are genuine. Both you and I cannot survive without water. Let’s resolve this through dialogue,” he addressed the crowd via loudspeaker.
Amod said the aggrieved people had blocked the highway for a couple of hours, which resulted in the blockade of traffic including the emergency services. To disperse the protestors, police had to use the force, he said.
“Though their demands are genuine, they resorted to violence and stone pelting, which damaged vehicles. I have given them an assurance that the matter will be taken up with the higher-up for early redressal,” he said. “We are with the people. Police, administration and locals always go hand in hand and will remain.”
The SSP, however, added, “We will initiate an inquiry into the injuries and damage due to stone pelting and minimum action will be taken. We won’t let any youth suffer; it’s not our motive.”
He urged the people to register their protests in a democratic and peaceful way. “Violence is never a solution to anything; it only leads to destruction,” the police officer added.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa also visited the protest site. He was accompanied by the Chief Engineer Jal Shakhti, SDM and other officials from the civil and police.
The DC said that the Chainbal area is a water deficit area. “Since it’s a tail-end area, there lies an overall deficiency of water supply. WSS Parihaspora, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore is meant to resolve the water supply crises in the deficit areas,” he said.
He said that almost 75% work of the scheme has been completed and within 6-7 months completion is expected. As of now, water tankers will be deputed to the areas that are facing the crises besides, that village with existing supplies will be diverted to meet the ends with proper argumentation, he said.
The DC said the issue related to the water will be resolved once and for all. We won’t let people suffer especially in the ongoing month of Muharram, he said.
On police action, Sherpa said the matter will be looked into and properly investigated as to what led to the escalation of the situation.
Chief Engineer Jal Shakti, Er Vivek Kohli, speaking to the media persons said the area has a water deficit. He said the scarcity will end soon after the completion of a multi-village scheme at Parihaspora under the Government of India’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
“The scheme will be completed within 5-6 months and already 75% of the work has been done,” he said, adding, “As of now, additional water tankers will be pressed to the area to meet the end, especially during the ongoing month of Muharram. Other measures will also be taken to ensure the people don’t suffer.”
The significant infrastructure project — Water Supply Scheme (WSS) situated at Parihaspora Pattan is being executed under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore.
The primary objective of this scheme, upon its successful completion, is to address the pressing issue of water scarcity in 57 adjacent villages, thus catering to the needs of approximately 75,000 individuals residing in these water-stressed areas.
Meanwhile, reacting to the situation, People’s Conference president, Sajad Gani Lone said that people were simply protesting over water scarcity, but police action seemed as if it was an encounter site.
“What on earth is happening in Chenabal, Pattan. People are simply registering their protest against scarcity of water. And what is the response of the JK police. It is as if they are at an encounter site. Can u please start listening to people and render a “supreme sacrifice” of treating humans as humans”, Lone wrote on the micro-blogging site X.
Another PC leader Imran Reza Ansari demanded accountability for the local police unit’s actions.
Taking to X, he wrote, “Deeply concerned about the escalating situation in Chainbal (Pattan), where a water scarcity protest turned violent. Local police responsible for the situation, using excessive force & live ammunition on protesters. Reports of injuries & damage are alarming. Authorities must address the water crisis & ensure peaceful resolution. The right to water is a fundamental human right & it’s the responsibility of the government to ensure access to this basic necessity. Protesters rights must be respected & protected. Local police must be held accountable for their actions.”
Touseef Raina, socio-political leader and a former Municipal Council Baramulla president termed it “very unfortunate” that the local police “mishandled” the situation at Chinbal.
“I was there, listening to the protesters, and they were ready to let the traffic go without the need for police force. I appeal to the DGP sahab to hold the concerned local police accountable for mishandling the situation,” Raina said on X.
“My sincere gratitude to SSP Baramulla for his direct intervention in restoring normalcy and peacefully dispersing the protesters, who were protesting against water crisis today at Chenabal. He did what the DSP failed to do”, reads Raina’s another post, hours after he alleged police mishandling the situation. (KNO)