Relatives of slain militants pelt stones at cops outside PCR Sgr; 9 held

Srinagar : Police on Saturday arrested nine persons who are said to be the relatives of militants killed in different encounters with government forces in south Kashmir recently, after they resorted to stone pelting at policemen outside Police Control Room Srinagar.
Sources said police lobbed tear smoke shells to disperse the relatives of slain militants mainly women who had assembled outside PCR here to have a last glimpse of their kin. They said the police action comes in the wake of stone pelting by the crowd.
A police official said 40-50 relatives had arrived in Srinagar to see their militant relatives killed in different encounters with government forces in Shopian and Pulwama districts of south Kashmir for the one last time.
He, however, said that only close relatives were allowed to enter the Police Control Room to see the last glimpse of slain militants which enraged others who later pelted stones on police deployed outside PCR. Station House Officer (SHO) Shaheed Gunj suffered minor injuries in the incident.
“We chased away a stone pelting mob and arrested nine persons after slain militants’ relatives pelted stones on police outside the Police Control Room. SHO Shaheedgunj also suffered injuries in the incident,” he said.
Those arrested were identified as Shahnawaz Ahmad of Bahibagh Kulgam, Zameer Ahmad Dar of Drabgam Pulwama, Basit Reyaz, Reyaz Ahmad of Mohpona Pulwama, Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, Adil Nazir Bhat, Muhammad Ishaq all residents of Muradpora Shopian, Fayaz Ahmad Sofi of Sangam and Sahil Mukhtar Drabgam Pulwama