Srinagar: On October 17 at around 9 pm suspected militants fired a UBGL grenade on a Central Reserve Police Force’s camp at Newa in Pulwama district.

The attack left two CRPF personnel injured while the militants managed to escape.

Following the attack, the CRPF personnel camping at the forces installation allegedly let loose a “reign of terror” in the area vandalizing and brutalizing the civilian population.

A group of locals told reporters that the forces didn’t even spare the womenfolk and hurled choicest invective’s at them.

The residents on Thursday held a strong protest demonstration against the CRPF and said that this was not the first time that the personnel camping at the said CRPF installation thrashed them.

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“Whenever there has been any militant action in the area, particularly around the CRPF camp, the personnel enter the homes and thrash the inmates.”

A senior resident of Newa said that the latest incident of CRPF “brutality” has forced several villagers to migrate from the area. “Many resident have already migrated due to the forces atrocities,” he said, “We too shall be forced to quit if the administration does not intervene at the earliest.”

“From past two months militants have attacked the CRPF 183 Battalion camp located in Newa at least five times. On Wednesday night there was a brief exchange of fire, the forces personnel entered into the houses and resorted to massive damage of electronic items and parked vehicles. They also beat the inmates,” another resident said.

“It was a hell like situation in the area,” they said. “Two brothers sustained grievous injuries and were shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment.”

“After every militant attack, the forces target civilian population,” claimed another resident.

Deputy Commissioner Pulwama GM Dar refuted the reports that some families migrated from the area. He however said that he has assured the resident that such incidents will never happen in future.

“I met a delegation from the area today as well and assured them that no such incident will happen in future,” the DC told The Kashmir Press.

The DC said that IG Kashmir police also visited the area and talked to both the parties (CRPF and the residents) and resolved the issue. “I also sent assistant commissioner to the spot,” he said.

CRPF spokesperson Sanjay Sharma did not respond to calls from The Kashmir Press.