Scores hurt in police-villagers clash in Kashmir

Baramulla, July 29: Scores of protestors were wounded when they clashed with police after security forces arrested some people during a search operation at Pattan in this district of north Kashmir today, sources and eyewitnesses said today.

They said security forces cordoned off Mandiyari village in Pattan area of this district at 0630 hrs this morning following a tip off that some militants were hiding there.

During the search operation, security forces arrested some villagers and allegedly thrashed several others.

The angry villagers later gathered on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway and protested against the ''high-handedness'' of the security forces. They blocked the highway for several hours.

Police later tried to persuade the protestors to remove the blockade. However, the angry mob pelted stones on the police personnel who retaliated by resorting to baton charge.

When the protestors refused to disperse, the police opened fire in the air. The action further angered the villagers who continued pelting stones on police. They also damaged a police vehicle. Scores of protestors were wounded in the police action.

The eyewitnesses said police later opened fire in which a villager, Ghulam Rasool Khanday, sustained bullet injuries. He was immediately rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

The situation in the area was at present tense but under control, the sources added.

UNI