States »NortPosted at: Jul 16 2021 7:54PM

Security forces burst teargas shells in Srinagar uptown to disperse demonstrators

Srinagar, Jul 16 (UNI) Security forces burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators who were hitting the streets in the uptown Srinagar after two local militants were killed in an encounter downtown on Friday.
Immediately after it was reported that two local militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), residents of uptown Natipora, were killed in an encounter by security forces in the downtown city today, a large number of people, mostly youth, hit the streets at main chowk Natipora.
Irfan Ahmad Sofi and Bilal Ahmad, both residents of Natipora, had joined militancy in 2020.
The demonstrators, raising slogans, pelted stones on the security forces on the main Srinagar-Charar-e-Sharief road. However, security forces and police personnel deployed in the area immediately swung into action and chased away the demonstrators.
The demonstrators regrouped again and clashed with the security forces. However, there was some relief for few hours when people offered Friday prayers. Later, after the prayers clashes between riot police and demonstrators continued for several hours.
Meanwhile, shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic suspended on Natipora-Nowgam road.
UNI BAS JW1954