Police, CRPF fire in air, burst teargas sheels in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 20 (UNI) Security forces today fired in air and also burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse ''pro-freedom'' demonstrators in the down-town city.

Official sources said hundreds of people, mostly youths, took to the streets in the down-town area of Nowhatta this afternoon, raising ''pro freedom slogans''.

However, when they tried to move towards the main chowk, police and CRPF personnel, deployed in strength since early morning stopped them.

When the processionists insisted that they be allowed to move forward, security forces resorted to lathicharge to disperse them which had no effect on them who were regrouping and pelting stones.

Later, security forces burst teargas shells to diserpse them.

Security forces later fired several rounds in the air to chase away the stone pelting protestors.

UNI BAS SP UCS1620