40 injured in Kashmir clash

Srinagar, July 24 (UNI) About 40 people, including a dozen police personnel, were injured when police fired in the air and burst teargass shells to disperse a strong mob, inculding women and children at Arpora, about 10 km from here in Pulwama district.

Official sources said about 5,000 people, including women, students and children, belonging to about 30 villages took to the streets demanding immediate repair of 10 km damaged roads from Panthak Chowk to Zeewan.

The demonstrators alleged because of bad roads, only a few passenger vehicles were plying on the route affecting normal life.

They said the students, including girls and elderly persons and women had to cover the distance on foot to reach Pantha Chowk on the National Highway to board buses to reach their respective destinations including schools, colleges and offices every day.

As the demonstrators were marching towards the National Highway, police personnel stopped them at Argam, half km short. However, when they insisted on marching forward, police resorted to lathicharge which had no affect.

Later, Police burst teargass shells to disperse the demonstrators who were pelting stones on police personnel. Police finally fired in the air to disperse the demonstrators.

About 40 people, including a dozen police personnel were injured in the clash. The injured included a senior police official who was hit in the arm by a flying stone.

The demonstrators, including students who remained absent from their institutions today, said despite assurances by the government, the road remained unrepaired for the past ten years.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has recently said an amount of Rs 629 crores is being spent for upgradation and renovation of different roads in Srinagar.

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