Police Wednesday used tear smoke shells to disperse the protesting people who had assembled at Maisuma to express solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik who was observing a hunger strike at Budshah Chowk Srinagar against what he termed as the high-handedness of police against people living in Maisuma and adjacent areas. Malik had alleged that police has been resorting to random arrests of youth living in Maisuma and its adjacent localities. Eyewitnesses said that soon after his release on Tuesday evening, Malik along with his supporters had erected a tent at Budshah chowk to continue his hunger strike.
Eyewitnesses told CNS that soon after stone-pelting incident, police fired some tear smoke shells to disperse the youth who according to police resorted to heavy stone-pelting. Residents of Maisuma alleged that police thrashed innocent people mercilessly and even did not spare the women. “A woman namely Rafiqa Banoo also suffered injuries when a tear smoke shell hit her leg,” said a local.The clashes between youth and police resulted in chaos and confusion in the area as shopkeepers downed their shutters while transport remained off the road.
Reports said that after hours of ding-dong battles between youth and police, the authorities finally released all the four persons that were picked up by the police. Soon after the release of the four persons including the son and father, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman ended his hunger strike. Locals identified the released persons as Ashiq Ahmed, Muhammad Yousuf, Ishfaq Ahmed and Suhail Ahmed. (CNS)