KL NEWS NETWOEK
SRINAGAR
Intense clashes erupted in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday leaving many civilians injured and a school building gutted.
Reports reaching here said that a pro-freedom rally was planned in Vihil area of Shopian today but government clamped down with strict curfew. A police spokesperson on Sunday late evening said that curfew will be imposed in the area in view of the scheduled rally.
Police once again made early dawn announcements in Shopian town asking people to stay indoors as curfew has been imposed.
However, hundreds of people assembled at the pro-freedom rally venue this morning but forces raided it leaving many injured.
“We assembled in nearby Chathwatan village,” a local said, “thousands of people assembled and freedom rally was planned to be held there but “Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF and police men reached the spot and thwarted the plan.”
The local said that forces fired tear gas shells, pellets due to which many people were injured. “We could not transport the injured civilians to Shopian hospital because of the curfew,” the locals said.
The injured persons were treated locally. “But some are badly injured and two ambulances were called to shift them to hospital,” they said. “People from Kachdoora, Vihil, Harmain, Sedow, Nowgam, Minipora are in Chathwatan.”
Meanwhile, reports said that a Government High School single storey building was gutted in the fire during the clashes. However, the actual cause of the fire was not immediately known.
“The men in uniform damaged orchards, beat animals including cows,” the locals said, “hundreds of apple boxes which were put together a place were destroyed in the blaze.”
At least eight injured civilians managed to reach Shopian district hospital where from two of them were rushed to Srinagar. Their eyes have been damaged due to pellet firing.
