Ahead of proposed pro-freedom march government forces conducted night raids in twin villages of Rohmu and Muran of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district and detained all but nine people. The according to locals have been lodged in police station Pulwama. Though locals said that the arrested people are innocent, but the police claimed that they are involved in law-breaking activities.Eyewitnesses told CNS that people had made all the arrangements for organizing a pro-freedom rally in the district and thousands were expected to reach ‘Muran’ area of the district. Hours before the march, police conducted nocturnal raids at Muran and Rohumu and arrested nine persons. Locals identified them as Tariq Ahmed Dar, Ghulam Nabi Dar and Muhammad Ashraf Dar of Rohmu, Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Rahim Sheikh, Ovais Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Hamid Ahangar and Bilal Ahmed Dar all residents of Muran.Witnesses and reports said that despites raids and arrests a large number of people organized a rally that started from Muran and culminated at Kangan village. Amid pro-freedom slogans youth clashed with government forces.
Locals alleged that police resorted to massive tear-smoke shelling and created panic in the district by resorted to aerial firing. The clashes between people and government forces continued for hours. Reports said that many protesters were wounded during these clashes. The district witnessed a complete shutdown like other parts of the Valley.Meanwhile, Police detained four youth in Ajas area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district and foiled a proposed pro-freedom march. Locals said that police picked up four youth in the morning in the wake of "Ajas chalo" call given by joint resistance camp in their last protest calender."Following the arrest of four persons, youth took to streets and clashed with police deployed in the village to foil Ajas chalo who responded by firing dozens of tear smoke and sound shells to disperse the protesting youth," locals and witnesses said. (CNS)