Islamabad (Anantnag), July 20: Several people were injured when police used force on the rally of veteran pro-freedom leader and Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Verinag area of this south Kashmir district.
 Eyewitnesses and reports said that as Geelani was addressing a huge gathering in the main chowk of Verinag, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the spot and without any provocation resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling.
 Several people sustained injuries in the police action. However Geelani was taken away by the people to safe destination. Later youth retaliated by pelting stones on the police who in turn fired more tear gas canisters.
 Several civilian vehicles were damaged during the ensuing clashes which continued for several hours and later spread to neighboring Dooru area. Shops in the area were closed following the violent clashes.
 Police also seized the Tata Mobile vehicle from where Geelani was addressing the people and also a scooter.
 Station House Officer (SHO), Dooru, Muzzafar Ahmad however said that police had to use force on the protesters when they resorted to stone pelting.
 Earlier, Geelani while addressing the gathering launched a scathing attack on the government for restricting the movement of the pro-freedom leadership.
 “On one hand government does not stop from boasting of democracy but on the other hand it has detained several pro-freedom leaders while restricting the movement of others for peacefully raising voice against state oppression,” said Geelani.
 He said that the authorities are not allowing him even to offer Friday prayers from last two years which speaks volumes about the ‘state repression.’
 “Even today I had to face lot of difficulty to reach here and express condolence with the family of a disappeared youth who lost his father,” said Geelani.
 Appealing the people to refrain from participating in the rallies of mainstream political parties, Geelani said, “They (mainstream parties) have sold the blood of our martyrs and any body who participates in their rallies is betraying the freedom movement.”
 He said that history was testimony that truth always prevails over falsehood.
 A police spokesman said in the evening: “Instigated by the speech of SAS Geelani, a small group of miscreants resorted to stone pelting on police at main market Verinag in the afternoon today. Police, however, exercised restraint. Situation was immediately brought to normal and no one was injured. It may be recalled that in the recent past also whenever Geelani visited any public place, incidents of stone pelting were reported, like the stone pelting incidents at Batamaloo, Bandipur, Sopore and other places.”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST