SF burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators at Awantipora
Srinagar, Mar 19: Security forces burst teargas shells and fired pellets to disperse demonstrators who were protesting at Awantipora in south Kashmir district of Pulwama against the death of a principal in alleged custody on Tuesday, official sources said.
Earlier, apprehending demonstrations, the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora suspended all semester examination which were scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
They immediately after the news about the custodial death of Rizwan Asad in Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police spread, people, mostly hit the streets raising slogans and pelting stones at main Awantipora road.
Security forces and state police personnel deployed in the area immediately swung into action and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators, who were demanding arrest of SOG personnel involved in the death of Rizwan.
However, when the demonstrators refused to disperse, security forces burst teargas shells and also fired pellets which had no impact, they said adding the demonstrators were regrouping and continued stone pelting.
Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic went off the roads on the main road.
Reports of demonstrations were also received from other parts of the Pulwama.
Meanwhile, brother of Rizwan said two days ago security forces arrested Rizwan from Awantipora house. He said later local police said he has been arrested by SOG, Cargo camp and this morning they learnt about his death.
He said his father was associated with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), which has been banned by the Government of India (GoI) recently.
He said Rizwan was earlier arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA) and later lodged in a police station in Jammu before his release on bail after about six months.
Rizwan was a principal of a local school besides running a tuition centre at Awantipora, his brother said, adding that he (Rizwan) was not associated with any militant outfit.