SF burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators at Sopore

Srinagar, Oct 13: Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators, protesting against the fresh incident of braid chopping in apple township of Sopore on Friday. Hundreds of people, including women and youths, hit the streets at Sopore town this morning following fresh incident of braid chopping. Raising slogans against the state government and police, the demonstrators blocked the main road demanded immediate arrest of all those who are behind the braid chopping in the valley. Alleging that police was not serious to unfold the mystery behind the braid chopping, the demonstrators said that when there was a bank robbery in south Kashmir yesterday within hours police claimed to have identified the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants the loot. Why police has so far failed, they questioned. As the demonstrators refused to disperse and allow traffic, security forces resorted to lathicharge which had no impact. Later security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the stone pelting demonstrators. Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic also went off the roads due to violence. The authorities have already announced closure of all educational institutions in the valley for the second day today as a precautionary measure. UNI