Islamabad, June 3: Hundreds of people took to the streets in this south Kashmir town on Thursday to protest against the alleged filming and blackmailing of some girls by a photographer. Following massive protests police resorted to baton charge and fired numerous tear smoke canisters to disperse the demonstrators who retaliated with stones triggering clashes in which scores of people were injured.    
 Protesters accused police of shielding the photographer involved in filming of pornographic clips and photos of some girls.
  Later the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Showkat Ahmad Malik addressed a hurriedly conveyed press conference urging people not to pay heed to rumours.  “We have received a complaint regarding a a photographer taking some indecent pictures of girls. We are investigating the matter,” the SSP said.
 He said that two youth were blackmailing a photographer and demanding huge sum of money.
 The SSP said the duo was arrested and an FIR under section 387 RPC amounting to extortion has been registered against them. “While as a case of indecent exposure act and misuse of information technology Act has been filed against the photographer,” he said.
 However, the SSP denied having recovered any video clip. “We have only recovered some still photographs and a memory card. We are looking into every aspect of the case. The law would take its own course,” he added.
 Police arrested the accused photographer later in the evening.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST