SF burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators, police appeals to maintain peace

Anantnag, Feb 16: Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators in this south Kashmir district, who were protesting against attack on Kashmiris in Jammu and other parts the country, official sources said.

However, a police spokesman on Saturday afternoon appealed to people not to pay heed to rumours and maintain peace as nobody from Anantnag has been killed in Jammu violence.

People, mostly youths, took to the streets at Lal Chowk in the town, raising slogans against those who are involved in attacks on Kashmiris in Jammu and other parts of the country.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic went off the roads.

However, when the demonstrators tried to move towards other areas in the town after rumours spread that a driver from Anantnag was killed by mob at Udhampur, security forces and state police personnel immediately swung into action and resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

Later security forces burst teargas shells to chase away demonstrators who were pelting stones. However, situation elsewhere in the district was near normal.

Meanwhile, police spokesman appealed to people not to pay any heed to rumours and maintain peace and calm .