JK: Teargas shelling in Baramulla; strike cripples life

Baramulla, Nov 27: Police today burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse hundreds of women demanding release of youths arrested in the past three days for their alleged role in recent demonstrations against the killing of two youths in security force firing on Friday.

Seven Assembly segments in Baramulla town go to the fourth phase polling on December 7 along with 11 other constituencies.

Meanwhile, a day after normalcy returned in the town following four-day strike, life was again paralysed due to spontaneous bandh.

Official sources said the trouble started this morning after hundreds of women gathered near police station Baramulla, demanding the realse of youths arrested by security forces in the town during the past three days.

Raising pro-freedom slogans, the women said they would not leave untill the youths were released.

However, police and security forces guarding the police station resorted to lathichage to disperse the women protestors, who were later joined by men.

Security forces burst teargas shells when repeated lathicharge had no affect on stone pelting demonstrators, who alleged that a number of youths were arrested during raids in different parts of the town without any justification.

They further alleged that youths, who participated in recent protests after two teenagers were killed in security force firing on Friday at Khanpora, were being made target despite assurance by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Inspector General of Police that those arrested would be released and security forces involved in the shooting would be punished.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the road in the town, where normalcy returned only yesterday after a total strike since Friday.

Work in government offices, educational institutions and other commercial establishments was affected due to strike for which no call was issued by any organisation.

UNI