‘We were kicked & thrashed by locals,’ Odia jawan narrates J &K ordeal

Sambalpur: At a time when a video of a Kashmiri youth tied to an Army jeep as a ‘shield’ to avoid irate locals in Jammu and Kashmir sparked off a major controversy, CRPF jawan Vicky Biswakarma’s statement on how the forces are treated has shaken one and all.

Speaking to OTV, Vicky who returned to Sambalpur on leave said he was one of the jawans who was kicked, thrashed and heckled by a mob while on election duty at the trouble-torn Budgaum district’s Nassarullahpura. The video went viral on social media platforms and television channels. He was deputed in the area where voting was conducted on account of bypolls in the Srinagar LS constituency.

“We were deputed there on election duty and while returning we were harassed and tortured by a mob of youths.  They were shouting anti-India slogans like ‘Go India Go Back,’ ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. Our duty was to protect the polling officials and why we stayed calm and came out of the place tactfully,” said Vicky.

“We thought it right to show restraint and not retaliate. We have learnt to persevere in adversity from our training,” says Vicky with a sense of pride.

Vicky hails from Khetarajpur in Sambalpur. “I am very proud of my son and wish he continues to discharge his duties appropriately. I want him to stay safe wherever he is,” said Vicky’s mother while trying to fight her tears.