13 injured in clashes with police, CRPF Shopkeeper’s arrest triggers protests in Palhallan Police has evidence to prove his involvement: DIG Baramulla, Aug 03: At least 13 persons were injured in clashes between police and protestors in Palhallan village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Saturday after a shopkeeper was arrested by Army and Special Operations Group of police. Locals said Army’s 29 Rashtriya Rifles and police raided the shop of Nazir Ahmed Tantray son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Tantray of Palhalan and arrested him. They said, soon after the news spread people blocked the Srinagar- Muzaffarabad road blocking traffic till late evening. The protesters raising anti-army and police slogans were demanding immediate release of Tantray. Protestors alleged that police and army have let loose a reign of terror in the town and are arresting youth without any reason. “Scores of youth are languishing in police stations of the district and I can give you proof how police is minting money from the arrested youth,” said a local wishing not to be named. Sources said, Tantray is known as cleric among the locals and is also associated with a separatist group. Large contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed in the area who used teargas shells to disperse the protestors during which at least 13 protestors were injured. However, the protestors did not budge and resorted to heavy stone pelting in response. Talking to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir, J P Singh said Tantray is involved in multiple cases. “Why should we arrest an innocent person? This fellow is involved in so many militancy related activities. He is behind every stone pelting incident that has occurred in Palhalan area as he distributes money among youth and instigates them for stonepelting,” Singh claimed and added that police has sufficient and concrete evidence to prove his involvement. “There are records about the money he used to provide people to instigate them in different unlawful activities. SSP Baramulla is on spot who is monitoring the situation and is in touch with the locals about the matter,” he said. Clashes and protests were on when the last reports came in due to which traffic has been stranded on highway from both sides near Palhallan.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 04:20:49 +0000