50 people, including a dozen policemen injured in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 5 (UNI) About 50 people, including a dozen police personnel were injured when police opened fire and burst teargas shells to diserpse violent demonstrators demanding action against the people involved in the recently exposed sex racket.

About 30 demonstrators were also take into custody.

One Amir Khan was injured when police opened fire to quell the mob at Chankral Mohalla this afternoon. He was admitted to hospital.

Official sources said about 50 people, including a dozen police personnel were injured in the a-long clashe between police and demonstrators at Habba Kadal, Chankral Mohalla and down town city, including Nowhatta and Nallahmar, this afternoon. The condition of one of the police jawan, who was hit in the head by a flying stone, was stated to be critical.

The residents alleged that security forces smashed the wind screen of several vehicles and window panes of nearby houses in the old city area.

Earlier, police fired several rounds in the air and also burst teargas shells to disperse the violent crowd , who had set on fire the house of Sabeena, the alleged kingpin, at Chinkral Mohalla in the old city immediately after the Friday prayers.

Sabeena had been arrested alongwith four others by the police.

However, the fire was immediately brought under control.

Earlier, the mob razed to ground her another house in the nearby Habba Kadal locality. They also set on fire her belongings after the police personnel deployed there were outnumbered by the agitating crowd.

The mob also recovered photo album, security force uniforms, drugs and other objectionable articles from her house.

Massive demonstrations were also held at several places in the city and outskirts.

The demonstrators were raising slogans against the police and government demanding action against the politicians, police and security force officials allegedly involved in the crime.

Police fired in the air and burst teargas shells to disperse the violent mob at Nowhatta, Nallahmar and other down town cities.

The demonstrators were demanding action against people involved in the sex racket.

Both the faction of the Hurriyat Conference, the National Conference and other political parties and separatist organisations have demanded a thorough probe into the racket so that the guilty are brought to book.

UNI BAS AK RS1915