Angry protesters Wednesday torched the police quarter and residential house of senior People’s Democratic Party leader and incumbent Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmed Lawey in Hanad Chawalgam village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.Nazir Ahmad Laway is the Member of Parliament representing the state of Jammu and Kashmir in Rajya Sabha. He was elected to Rajya Sabha from state of Jammu and Kashmir on the ticket of PDP in February 2015.Reports said that hundreds of protesters from Tangabal and Katrusu areas moved towards Kulgam district. The tempers according to witnesses ran high after government forces allegedly used extra forces to foil pro-freedom rallies in these areas. The clashes in these areas left dozens of people injured. Witnesses added that protesters before setting the residential house of Laway on fire attacked Jammu and Kashmir Bank Building that was open that time. The protesters pelted stones of the Bank and smashed the window panes of the building. Witnesses added that the protesters tried to set the Bank building on fire, however, they were informed that the building belong to local Auqaf Committee as a result protesters marched towards the residential house of PDP leader.
Witnesses told CNS that hundreds of protesters amid pro-freedom slogans proceeded towards Hanad Chawalgam and attacked the house of PDP leader with stones. “Laway puts up in a government quarter at Kulgam and he was not present in his house at the time of attack. Sensing trouble the security guards in defense fired some shots in air; however they were overpowered by people and beaten up. They managed to escape from the scene while the protesters sprayed petrol and set the police quarter and newly constructed house on fire. The protesters also ransacked another house of Laway and even set a parked Scooty on fire,” Advocate Airaz Laway, the nephew of Nazir Ahmed Laway, an eyewitness told CNS.He confirmed that security guards fled from the scene and didn’t confront the protesters. “I heard that protesters decamped with two service rifles, but it has not been confirmed yet,” he said and added that protesters also thrashed some of the locals of the area for not participating in the freedom rallies.Confirming the incident, a police official said that investigation has been started and efforts are on to identify those responsible for arson. (CNS)