Several protesting schoolchildren wounded in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 2 (UNI) Scores of protesting schoolchildren were wounded in a melee after security guards of a lawmaker opened fire in air to disperse them at Mujgund on the city outskirts today.

Eyewitnesses said the students of the Government Higher Secondary School, Mujgund, had staged a sit-in on the Srinagar-Bandipora road this morning to protest against the shortage of staff in their institution.

As the children had blocked the traffic on the road, a motorcade carrying a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Ali Mohammad Bhat of the Congress, and his son tried to move ahead, they added.

The witnesses said the motorcade was stopped by the protesting students, prompting the Congress leader's personal security guards to open fire in the air.

This resulted in melee and several terrified students were wounded as they ran helter-skelter, they added.

Soon after hearing the news and the gunshots, the locals gathered on the road. They shouted slogans against the MLC and protested the unprovoked firing.

A police party, led by the Station House Officer (SHO), Mujgund, reached the spot and tried to pacify the angry protestors.

As the demonstration turned violent, police used baton charge and fired teargas shells to disperse the angry protestors who later set on fire the SHO's official vehicle.

Several people were also wounded in the police action.

UNI