KUPWARA/ KULGAM: At least 20 civilians were Friday injured during the clashes between youth and forces in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. Reports of police clashing with youth have also been recieved from South Kashmir.
Reports said that as soon as the Friday congregation prayers ended in the Markazi Jamia Masjid Kupwara, the people mostly youth took to streets and staged protests against the police for arresting youth in the locality from past couple of days.
The protesters were demanding the release of youth before Eid.
Witnesses said, Police resorted to massive tear gassing to disperse the youth who were throwing stones on them.
Scores of forces personnel and nearly 20 youth sustained injuries during the clashes between youth and forces in several areas including Markazi Jamia Masjid road, main Chowk Kupwara, Meer Mohalla, Malik Mohalla, Ganaie Mohalla, Iqbal market and bypass road. Several youth were also arrested during the clashes in the area, witnesses said told KNS.
BMO Kupwara, Dr Fareed said that at least 21 civilians received injuries during the clashes who were treated in the hospital. All injured civilians are stable, he said.
Meanwhile, locals alleged that the forces ransacked the window panes of the houses and also damaged the vehicles of the general public. Journalists Association also alleged harassment by police officials, stating that they were thrashed and abused by the police personnels.
SP Kupwara, Aijaz Ahmad told KNS that no one received injuries during the clashes.
He said that barring few stone pelting incidents, the situation remained peaceful.
Meanwhile intense clashes broke between forces and locals in Rampora Qaimoh area of Kulgam district after army arrested a youth in nearby Hawoora village.
Locals pelted stones on the army party that had picked up the youth near Rampora village. Army resorted to aerial firing and allegedly ransacked the window panes of the houses, said a local.
Villagers of Rampora alleged that army went on rampant and damaged property found in the lawns.
According to a police official, army was on a patrolling working on a specific input.
In the meantime local youth started stone pelting and to disperse the youth and make their way out army fired some gun shorts in air, the official said.
Earlier as this month, families of a few militants of this area complained of harassment at the hands of forces alleging of ransacking their houses regularly.
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