Violent Protest in Sri Nagar after Missing Youth’s Body Found

After the dead body of a youth, missing for last six days, was found, major protest erupted in Srinagar with agitators even putting police vehicle on fire and vandalizing other thus provoking security forces to open fire.

Soon after police recovered the body of undergraduate student Asrar Mushtaq Dar from Rainawari locality, mob of youth took to streets, pelted stones and enforced a strike in most parts of the city. According to officials, the body was found with the throat slit.

Officials said that the agitators stopped a police vehicle at Budshah Chowk, got police personnel get off and then burnt it. Also, they bashed up policemen.

At Pratap Park area too, protestors damaged another police vehicle, said officials. It may be mentioned that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC is already in force in the city.

Policemen, already deployed in the area in sufficient number, opened fire to drive out the stone-pelting agitators, officials said, adding that there is no report of any casualty in firing.

The protests broke out soon after the news about the recovery of the body of Dar reached Maisuma locality, where he hails from.

Policemen were engaged by groups of youths in street clashes in the area. While agitators pelted stones, policemen retaliated by lobbing of tear gas shells and lathi-charge.

The situation is tense, the officials said.