Massive protest in Kashmir against alleged molesation of a girl

Srinagar, May 14 (UNI) People at Tral in south Kashmir today took to streets demanding action against the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel allegedly involved in molestation of a girl.

However, a CRPF spokesman denied the charges.

Official sources said a teenage girl was allegedly beaten up by CRPF personnel after she protested when they tried to molest her at village Mandoora, Tral, about 40 km from here today.

Later, hundreds of people took to streets in protest against the incident.

Raising slogans against CRPF and state administration, the demonstrators who blocked the main road, demanded action against the accussed.

Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them, sources said adding some people were injured.

Shops and business establishments in the Mandoora and adjoining areas remained closed and traffic was off the road.

The demonstrators were trying to block the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Senior police and civil officials rushed to the spot to control the situation.

A CRPF spokesman, however, denied the reports and said that trouble started after three youths traveling in a mini-bus refused to come down from the vehicle for routine frisking conducted by the CRPF near a naka.

He said all the passengers de-boarded the bus and went through routine search, except the three who clashed with the CRPF personnel.

In the meantime the passengers of other vehicles and people from nearby areas started raising slogans and blocked the traffic,the spokesman added.

A police officer chased away the demonstrators in which one girl received minor injuries. However, she was referred to hospital here after she complained of pain in the abdomen.

He said the allegation of molestation or attempt to rape the girl was totally baseless.

UNI