[Reader-list] Kashmiris lay siege on water minister’s house, 50 in custody

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

Kashmiris lay siege on water minister's house, 50 in custody

Express News Service
Posted online: Monday , July 07, 2008 at 10:21:00
Updated: Monday , July 07, 2008 at 10:21:00
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Kashmiris-lay-siege-on-water-ministers-house-50-in-custody/332201/

New Delhi, July 6 Around 50 Kashmiris laid siege on the official
residence of Union Water Resources Minister, Saifuddin Soz, on Sunday
afternoon in protest against the Jammu and Kashmir Government's
decision to cancel the transfer of over 39 hectares of forestland to
the Amarnath Shrine Board. They shouted slogans and clashed with
police officers.

The Tuglaq Road police had not registered a case till late evening,
though the protestors have been taken into police custody.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 4 pm when
protestors stormed the 12, Akbar Road residence of Soz, broke
flowerpots and window panes amid slogan shouting against the state
government.

Police officers said protestors also clashed with the police, who
rushed to the spot to detain them.

The protestors, on the other hand, claimed their protest was peaceful,
but the police used force against women and the elderly, which led to
clashes.

Members of the NGO, 'Roots in Kashmir', were protesting against the
recent state government decision to revoke the transfer of forest land
to the Amarnath Shrine Board for development activities.

The decision had sparked violent protests across the Valley and the
PDP pulled out of the ruling coalition.

Aditya Raj Kaul, a 'Roots in Kashmir' member, alleged the police beat
up protestors mercilessly and some of them fell unconscious.

The police have denied all allegations. They said after the incident
security in and around 12, Akbar Road, has been tightened to thwart
any untoward incident.

"We have deployed more security personnel and increased patrolling in
the area," senior police officers said.