Ten injured as security forces stop march to Sopore
By IANSMonday, June 28, 2010
SRINAGAR - Ten protesters were injured when security forces intercepted a large procession here, marching towards north Kashmir’s Sopore town, where another youth was killed in firing by security forces Monday.
Around 10,000 protesters started a march towards Sopore from different parts of the Old City areas of Srinagar Monday morning.
As the protesters reached Omarabad colony on the outskirts of the city on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, 12 km from city centre Lal Chowk, security forces intercepted the procession with barricades, baton charges, tear gas shells and firing in the air.
Ten people were injured, according to eye witnesses. Of them, two sustained critical injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Although the march has been stopped, the situation at Omarabad is highly volatile as many people are still offering resistance to the security forces there.
The moderate Hurriyat group headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq had called for a march to Sopore to join the funeral of two youth killed there in paramilitary firing Friday.
Another youth identified as Tajamul Ahmad Bhat was killed in Sopore Monday while 23-year-old Bilal Ahmad Wani was killed there Sunday.
Meanwhile, a spontaneous shutdown affected normal life in Srinagar Monday although no group had called for the shutdown.
