The residents of Arihal village in South Kashmir's pulwama district on Thursday Morning blocked Pulwama -Shopian highway to protest against detention of of some youth by police during nocturnal raids. Local sources told KNO kashmir news observer that more than 15 youth were detained by police during intervening night of 21 and 22 March on charges of stone pelting.
The residents said that on Wednesday some youth pelted stones on forces when they were passing through Arihal village. They said that forces raided the village at around 11pm and picked more than 15 youth, which agitated them and created a blockade on Pulwama Shopian highway near khamri junction. Many passenger and private vehicles were seen stranded there.
Senior superintendent of police for Pulwama, Mohammed Aslam Chaudhry told that a team of police was there to chase some cannbis smugglers and these youth resisted by pelting stones on them. "Around 12 youth were detained as they were involved in stone pelting on youth," he said, adding some of them may have links with cannabis smugglers.