Kulgam, Feb 27: Several persons were injured here in the clashes that erupted between the protesters and the police after the later tried to disrupt the Milad procession here.
“People were marching along peacefully in a Milad procession when the police personnel deployed near the Qazigund bus terminal interrupted procession and ordered the people to disperse on the pretext of causing traffic jams,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir.
 They said that when the processionists refused to disperse, police resorted to baton charge injuring many. This infuriated the people in the procession who resorted to stone pelting, retaliated by intense tear gas shelling by the cops. Scores including several policemen were injured in the daylong clashes. Clashes later spread to Ziarat Mohalla, Larkipora and Main Chowk.
 Police later detained several youth and enforced severe restrictions in the town.
 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Keshav Ram Chaurasia could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
PDP CONDEMNS
 People Democratic Party has strongly condemned use of force on the peaceful Milad procession in Kulgam.
 In a statement, PDP spokesman termed the lathicharge and teargas shelling on the peaceful procession by police as unfortunate and uncalled for. “The people had taken a peaceful and religious process on which police resorted to cane charging and smoke shelling without any justification,” the spokesman said.
 In a separate statement, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, the chief whip of party also condemned the use of force on the procession, which led to the injuries to many people.
 “It is unfortunate that police used such a brutal force on the innocent people,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST