Sopur, Mar 17: This north Kashmir town observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday to protest against the death of a civilian, Tanveer Ahmed, in a shootout on Tuesday. The town also witnessed massive demonstrations against the alleged loot by troopers and personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of police.
Hundreds of people took to streets this morning and staged demonstrations to give vent to their ire against the alleged loot. Policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers who were deployed in strength resorted to baton charge and fired numerous tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters who retaliated with stones triggering clashes.
As protesters refused to relent reinforcements were rushed in to control the situation. Pertinently, two persons including a SOG man were killed and six others were wounded when militants fired upon the SOG men who were making purchases near General Bus Stand yesterday.

‘LOOT’
“We were about to close the shops last evening when we heard gunshots. We ran for cover amid continuous firing and kept shutters open,” traders said.
They said after the shootout a joint party of SOG and troops cordoned off the area. “When the siege was lifted we were shocked to see cash and goods missing,” shopkeepers alleged.
Traders said that a local channel had captured the images of troopers barging into shops and looting cash. “We have a CD showing troopers and SOG men decamping with goods and money,” the president of Trader’s Federation, Ghulam Nabi Khan said.
According to the Federation, the goods and cash were stolen from shops of Bashir Ahmed Malla, Irshad Ahmed khan, Muhammad Ramzan Dar, Ghulam Hassan Malla, Muhammad Ayub Laway, Ghulam Nabi Laway, Muneer Ahmed Malla,Showkat Ahmed, Muhammad Yosuf ,Mushtaq Ahmed, Tanveer Ahmed Dar, Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Ghulam Muhammad Shah, Fayaz Ahmed Shah, Khurshhed Ahmed Kaboo, Bashir Ahmed Dar, Bilal Ahmed Gazi, Muhammad Maqbool Khan and Fayaz Ahmed.

PEDESTRIANS ‘THRASHED’
Locals alleged that police and paramilitary CRPF men beat up several pedestrians and residents in Arampora area. “We were beaten without any provocation this afternoon,” said Fayaz Ahmed of Arampora.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST