Srinagar, Sep 17: Protests erupted in north Kashmir’s Sopore town on Saturday against the arrest of four youth by Police during a nocturnal raid on Friday.
 Locals told Greater Kashmir over phone that as word about the arrest spread in the town this morning residents took to the streets and staged a protest, which led to disruption of traffic for more than an hour.
 They identified arrested youth as Irshad Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Ahad Lone, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir son of Muhammad Akmal of Hardshiva, Ghulam Hassan Lone son of Muhammad Lone of Nathipora Wadoora and Fayaz Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Ahad Mir of Warpora.
 All the four, Police said, were ex-militants of Hizbul Mujahideen. They said that a joint party of Police and 22 Rashtriya Rifles that had killed Divisional Commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abdullah Unni earlier this month raided their residences during night.
 The families of the youth decried the Police action saying, “Our wards are innocent. They have been implicated.”
 When contacted Superintendent of Police Sopore, Imtiyaz Hussain, told Greater Kashmir that “four ex-militants” were detained for questioning from different places.
 Meanwhile, residents of Hathishah in Jamia Qadeem have alleged that paramilitary CRPF men assaulted and broke wind shields of vehicles on Friday evening.
 They said that the area had witnessed stone pelting after congregation prayers but ‘targeting civilians was not the solution’.
 Sopore town has remained tensed and shut over the past three days after the killing of Abdullah Unni.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST