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| Arrest of 8 youth trigger protest in North Kashmir | | |
Baramulla July 20
Trouble revisits Ladoora Rafiabad area of North Kashmir after hundreds of people staged a strong protest and blocked Baramulla – Kupwara National Highway over the arrest of eight youth by the army.
Six youth were picked up by Army from Ladoora area after militants ambush a security forces convoy on Thursday triggering strong protest demonstrations.
Sources said that people in large number took to streets shouting anti government and anti security forces slogans. They were demanding immediate release of the arrested youth.
The youth, sources said were picked up last evening after militants attacked an Army Convey. The protestors staged a sit-on and blocked the Baramulla - Kupwara Highway for several hours.
"Large number of people including woman and children start gathering from early this morning in Ladoora area to protest the arrest" said a local, adding that they marched towards the high way and staged a sit on blocking the traffic movement on the busy road.
Sources added that in early the morning of Wednesday army personnel of 32 R.R raided houses of Abdul Rashid Dar son of Rahim Dar and arrested him and his son Ramiz Rashid Dar. The army personnel also picked up another local Ghlum Muhammed Lone son of Ahad Lone and his son Ghlum Moh-ud-din Lone and other four local youth who were later released after protests. Protesting people allege that army is forcing them to cut down their maze crops in orchards along National Highway and is harassing and frisking them.
"They are beating, frisking and harassing us like anything, we want immediate release of eight locals whom army has picked up in the morning and they are innocents," said Muhammed Ashraf Dar of Loodra.
"I have hundred Kannal apple orchard along national highway, army is forcing us to cut maze crops which is first crop farmers of Kashmir have, if militants have fired upon then what is our sin, they militants can do anywhere," shouted Aftab Ahmed Lone.
However, an army official of 32 R.R while talking to NAK, said "The allegations are baseless, we have not beaten and harassed locals but for security concerns apple orchard owners were asked to clear the surroundings and cut the maze as militants hide behind the maze and frequently attack army vehicles."
He also said that four persons were released after questioning and the four were involved in the attack for providing shelter to the militants and some arms and ammunitions were recovered from their possession. Later the four were handed over to police station Sopore were an FIR bearing registration number 240-07 has been lodged against two.
However, Additional Superintendent Police Imtiyaz Ahmed said that two persons have been released while others antecedes are being traced out.
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