People at Sopore take to streets alleging forces hurled grenades

Srinagar, July 27 (UNI) People at the apple township of Sopore took to streets today alleging that security forces hurled a hand grenade from a vehicle injuring 18 people.

Hundreds of people, including women, took to streets demanding immediate action against the security forces who allegedly hurled a hand grenade on civilians from a running vehicle at Bug in which 18 people were injured.

The demonstrators raised anti-security force and pro-freedom slogans blocking traffic on the main road. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the agitating crowd.

Meanwhile, chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani condemned the police lathicharge.

Mr Geelani, in a statement here this afternoon, said Kashmiri youth are being killed in fake encounters and thousands are languishing in jails for years without any trial.

Calling for a two-day strike against President A P J Abdul Kalam's visit starting tomorrow, he said,'' We call for a strike since he is the supreme commander of the Indian security forces who are commiting Human Rights violations in the valley.'' UNI BAS AK KN1904