Security force burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators in Shopian

Srinagar: Security forces resorted to lathicharge and burst teargas shells on Thursday to disperse stone-pelting demonstrators at Shopian in south Kashmir, protesting against the Kathua rape and murder case.Despite suspension of class work in Government Degree College (GDC) and Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) in Shopian, a large number of people, mostly youths, hit the streets at main chowk, raising slogans demanding death penalty to all those involved in the crime.

However, the security forces and state police personnel deployed in the area immediately swung into action after the demonstrators disrupted traffic movement. Security forces resorted to repeated lathicharge after the demonstrators refused to disperse, official sources said. Later security forces burst teargas shells to chase away the demonstrators, who were pelting stones.Business and traffic movement came to halt in the town though efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the town, they said, adding that the clashes were going on when the reports last came in.Meanwhile, the class work in GDC and HSSs was suspended on Thursday by the Deputy Commissioner as a precautionary measure.(UNI)