Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 9: A spontaneous protest amid shutdown was observed in Maisuma and its adjoining areas of the city centre after an alleged stone-thrower wanted in several cases was arrested by police.
Dozens of youth took to streets in Maisuma, one of the busiest commercial areas, today and started protests against the arrest of Ashiq Ahmad by police. The youth protesters hurled rocks on police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed at Budshah Chowk and Budshah Bridge, triggering clashes.
As the clashes ensued, the shopkeepers at Maisuma, Budshah Chowk, Gaw Kadal, Red Cross Road and Exchange Road downed their shutters. Police responded by firing dozens of teargas shells and pepper grenades in an attempt to disperse the stone-throwers. Due to clashes, the traffic in the area was also disrupted.
A police official said that Ashiq was involved in several stone-throwing incidents. He said that he was also behind the stone-pelting incident last month in which a Deputy Superintendent of Police was injured. “He is a notorious stone-pelter and was wanted in several cases,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the shutdown in South Kashmir’s Pulwama town entered 11th day while another round of talks between Government and locals failed to yield any result. A local told Excelsior the Auqaf Committee, Traders Federation and local youths held a meeting with district administration officials at ‘Shaheed Park’.
During the meeting, the locals reiterated their demand of installing a insignia in memory of slain local and foreign militants. The administration, however, refused permission after which locals decided to march towards the ‘Shaheed Park’ in an attempt to install the insignia. Meanwhile, police have detained nearly a dozen youth for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting.
In the meanwhile, police today yet again installed the food stalls in Pulwama town for the convenience of locals.
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