Panic grips north Kashmir after a tyre burst

Baramulla, Sep 2 (UNI) Panic gripped the Pattan area of north Kashmir district after security forces resorted to indiscriminate firing following a tyre burst when the motorcade of a senior minister was passing through the area.

Deputy Inspector General of police (north Kashmir) B Srinivas told UNI the motorcade of Minister of Education, Haj and Auqaf Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and an Army convoy were passing Puthkhah area in Pattan when the tyre of a sumo vehicle bursted.

He said Army personnel in the convoy and Road Opening Party (ROP) mistook it for a fidayeen attack and they opened fire in air.

However, no one was injured in the firing, he added.

The DIG denied reports that it was a fidayeen attack.

The Minister was scheduled to attend a school function in the area, he said, adding after attending the function Mr Sayeed left for Srinagar.

UNI