Clashes broke out in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district after a police party allegedly roughed up some shopkeepers. The police action sparked spontaneous shutdown.
According to reports some shopkeepers at Dangarpora locality entered into an argument with some cops on parking issue while shopkeepers alleged that policemen from Sheerbagh police post thrashed them without any reason.
The thrashing incident sparked protest while shopkeepers downed their shutters and staged a protest against the police highhandedness. Eyewitnesses told CNS that local students also joined in the protest demonstration. As the news about the incident spread, traders closed their business in the district.
Reports said that some protesters resorted to stone-pelting while police lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse them. Witnesses added that clashes spread in other parts of the town including Achabal Ada, Lal Chowk, Kotwal Gali, Reshi Bazar and Cheni Chowk. The clashes left many protesters wounded.
A police official denied that any shopkeeper was manhandled by them. He said that a request was made to a shopkeeper to park his vehicle in the parking lot, but instead of obliging, few shopkeepers raised hue and cry and tried to assault a policeman. (CNS)