12 injured in clash between taxi drivers, CRPF men

Srinagar, July 5: At least a dozen persons were injured when a

broke out between

personnel and local taxi drivers protesting against the alleged beating of their colleague by personnel of the force at Baltal base camp of Amarnath yatra in Kashmir, police said.

The clashes erupted last night when the taxi drivers were protesting against CRPF personnel beating a local taxi driver Ghulam Nabi Lone following an altercation, leaving him severely injured, police said.

At least a dozen protesters were injured in the clashes, three of whom were hospitalised, they added. The security force personnel resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charge to disperse the protesters, they said.

During the clashes, fire erupted in one of the tents being used as a community kitchen, police said, adding that the blaze was put out by fire tenders later.

The yatris from the nearby tents were shifted to safer places during the clashes, they said.

Senior officials of the civil administration and police rushed to the spot and resolved the matter, police said, adding that the pilgrimage started this morning smoothly.

PTI