An angry mob on Tuesday hurled stones at a police party in Shopian, prompting the security personnel to fire in the air and use batons in the South Kashmir town which saw disruption of normal life, with shops closing down and vehicles going off the road.
The clashes broke out as an irate mob charging the police with destroying evidence to save the culprits in the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian indulged in pelting of stones on a police party escorting a market checking squad led by Additional Deputy Commissioner M.Y. Zargar in the town, 52 kms from here, official sources said.
Police fired warning shots and used batons to disperse the protesters leading to clashes which spread through the entire town, they said. However, no one was injured in the clashes, they said. The protesters also threw stones at the office of the Deputy Commissioner smashing some windowpanes, the sources said, adding, the clashes were still continuing at different places in town.
Shopkeepers pulled down shutters of their establishments and all modes of transport came to a standstill, they said. Reinforcements have been rushed to the violence-hit areas to maintain law and order.
Shopian witnessed a prolonged 47-day strike last year as people protested against the alleged rape and killing two women in May.
