Protests, clashes continue in Baramulla

Srinagar: Protests continued for the second consecutive day Wednesday in Baramulla town of North Kashmir against the death of a man, allegedly due to police beating.

According to officials, 38-year-old Zahoor Ahmad Dar son of late Abdul Razak Dar of Islamia Colony; old town died of meningitis at the SK Institute of medical sciences, Srinagar on Tuesday morning, where he was admitted last week. However, the locals contested the claims of officials and alleged that the youth died of the injuries he sustained in forces action on October,1, this year.

Violent clashes broke out in the town after Zahoor was laid to rest at Martyrs graveyard amidst massive pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations.

Correspondent from North Kashmir said that amid complete shutdown, hundreds of people for the second running day today staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, groups of youth appeared on Azad Gunj and Cement Bridge and engaged police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in pitched battles. Forces fired tear smoke shells after they failed to disperse the stone pelting youth with batons.

Meanwhile, protests and clashes broke out in Sopore town against the alleged highhandedness of the forces.

Correspondent said groups of youth this morning took to streets at main chowk and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting pro-Independence and anti-India slogans, the people were protesting against the alleged excesses by the forces. The protesters said that forces last evening thrashed several people without any reason or rhyme.

Later, clashes broke out between protesting youth and the forces. Forces resorted to cane charge and burst teargas canisters to quell the protesters.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman in a handout issued this evening said that that attempts to disturb peace in Sopore by miscreants were foiled.

“Miscreants early morning today surfaced in Chan khan, Main town and Bus stand areas of Sopore, and resorted to stone pelting on Police and forces. Police however exercised maximum restraint to avoid any mishap. Miscreants were chased away without use of force, and situation in these areas was brought to normal,” the spokesman added.