Dozen Injured, Multiple Vehicles Damaged as Mob Attacks MLA’s Rally in Gurez

Gurez, October 30: Tensions flared in the remote Gujran area of Tulail, Bandipora district, as a political rally led by MLA Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Khan, was attacked by a mob, resulting in injuries to over a dozen people and extensive damage to vehicles, according to official sources.

Eyewitnesses report that as Khan’s rally passed through Gujran, a mob began pelting stones, leading to clashes between rally participants and local residents. An official told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that several injured individuals were transported to a nearby hospital, with three critically injured being referred to Srinagar for further treatment.

Authorities confirmed that a case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the sequence of events. Police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident escalated, using smoke shells to disperse the crowd and restore order. Despite the intervention, no arrests have been made thus far.

MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan has alleged that BJP workers and relatives of Faqeer Mohammad Khan, a BJP leader defeated in the recent elections, orchestrated the attack to target his supporters. “This was an attempt to intimidate our supporters,” said Nazir Khan.

In contrast, DDC Tulail Ajaz Ahmad Khan, son of Faqeer Khan, countered the accusation, claiming that rally participants had provoked locals by throwing stones at homes belonging to BJP supporters. “The villagers were simply defending their property after being targeted,” Ajaz Khan stated, adding that several houses were damaged during the altercation.

The incident underscores heightened political tensions in Gurez, with both factions blaming each other for instigating the violence. Police have promised a thorough investigation into the events leading to this clash.