KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
In an attempt to foil a scheduled pro-freedom rally in Srinagar’s Palpora area, police and CRPF raided the venue and clashes erupted.
Reports and local sources said that the local populace had planned a rally “in honour” of Danish Sultan today.
Danish Sultan died when he jumped in Jhelum while CRPF was chasing a group of four youths in Parimpora area a few days ago.
“Many people had assembled in Football ground New Colony when police and CRPF men in huge numbers came and started firing tear gas and pellet firing,” a local said, “they also resorted to aerial firing to scare people so that they abandon the rally.”
Reports said that some people have sustained injuries and have been rushed to a Srinagar hospital. A similar rally was held in the same area yesterday.
Meanwhile reports said that a pro-freedom rally was planned in Zanglipora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam. However, police and CRPF raided the area around 1 AM in the middle of Sunday-Monday night.
Local sources said that at least five persons have been arrested in the nocturnal raid.
Meanwhile, protests erupted this morning and preparations for the rally restarted. “But police, SOG and CRPF came around 11 Am and clashes ensued as they did not allow the rally to start,” reports said, “however, people showed defiance and rally commenced.”
More than 20 persons were injured in the ensuing clashes and 15 of them were rushed to PHC Kelam wherefrom 5 injured were referred to Islamabad district hospital.
Forces ransacked the venue, barged into the houses in Zanglipora village during an overnight raid where they vandalized the property and thrashed the inmates.
(Aakash Hassan contributed reporting for this copy from Kulgam.)
