Srinagar: Police on Thursday said that many youth were arrested in connection with stone pelting and arson in Nowgam area of Srinagar.
“On 16-03-2022 at Shankarpora Nowgam Srinagar, three (03) (militants) of LeT/TRF were neutralized. As per the SOP, the site was being cleared to ensure the safety of citizens,” a [police spokesperson said, adding, “Accordingly, signboards were also placed around the site of encounter, while it was being sanitized, to dissuade citizens from approaching the site prior to sanitization with regard to any left-over explosives from (militants) that could cause damage to locals.”
However, he said, a large “unruly mob from adjacent areas consisting of young boys carrying lathies and stones in their hands assembled near the encounter site tried to pelt stones on the deployed nafri which was asking them not to approach the site of encounter before being cleared of explosive debris.”
“In order to disperse the mob smoke shells were used as per the SOPs,” police said, adding, “Accordingly a case vide FIR No. 46/2022 under relevant sections of law stands registered in PS Nowgam and some youths were identified from videos and from initial investigation, many of them were picked up and are being examined in the said case.” Some of them have been arrested as well, he said.
“Police requests all citizens to stay away from encounter sites so to ensure their own safety, keeping in view the likelihood of left over explosives from the (militants).” (GNS)