Several injured in Shopian clashes

Srinagar: Several persons were injured when security forces fired pellets, burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators who were pelting stones and trying to disrupt Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Shopian, where two militants were killed in an encounter on Saturday.
Immediately after news spread about the encounter at Bonbazar in the main Shopian town, people, mostly youths hit the streets at several places raising slogans and hurling stones on security forces and state police personnel, deployed to maintain law and order. However, when the demonstrators were trying to move towards encounter site, security forces resorted to lathicharge and also burst teargas shells which had no impact. Later security forces fired pellets to disperse demonstrators who were re-grouping and pelting stones.
Several persons were injured in the security force action who were shifted to hospital, official sources said.
Meanwhile, mobile internet service has been suspended in Shopian, where educational institutions have also been closed as a precautionary measure. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic also remained off the roads in the town.