Police fire in air, burst teargas as agitation continue in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 7 (UNI) Police fired in the air, burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse processionists in the Kashmir valley today, official sources said.

They said thousands of people took to streets at Khanabal and blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Raising slogans against the communal forces for attacking Muslims and Kashmir drivers and businessmen in Jammu, the processionists alleged that the government had failed to control situation in the summer capital.

They alleged that the Jammu administration had given free hand to communal forces to attack Muslims and Kashmiri residents there.

However, when they refused to allow normal traffic on the highway, police resorted to lathicharge and later fired teargass shells to disperse them.

The agitators pelted stones on police, vehicles and refused to disperse.

Later, police fired several rounds in the air, the sources said.

Police fired teargas shells to disperse a mob when they attacked a bank building at Lal Chowk in Anantnag.

Raising slogans against the communal forces, the processionists marched through different streets in the town. However, when they reched near a bank, they start pelting stones. But timely action by police saved the situation.

Reports of stone pelting on passing vehicles were also received from different parts of the city and north Kashmir district of Baramulla.

UNI BAS LPB HT1402