J&K police target youth for pelting stones

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police have launched a massive crackdown against stone-throwers, arresting dozens of them from Srinagar.

“We have arrested stone throwers from various areas in the city. The drive will continue till peace prevails,”  senior superintendent of police Javid Reyaz said.

For the past week, Srinagar has been on the boil over the killing of 17-year-old-student Tufail Ahmad. More than 60 people, including police and paramilitary, were injured in stone-pelting. There was a three-day bandh in Srinagar during which stone-pelting mobs ruled the streets.

“All the stone-throwers have been arrested. Only those who instigated them will be booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA),” said Reyaz.

J&K Police is hoping that stone-throwers in Srinagar will follow the example set by their counterparts in Baramulla, who offered truce and vowed to desist from stone-pelting last Friday. “Youth are being arrested and charged under stringent sections of law. But no one is speaking up for them. Even Hurriyat is backing out,” said a stone-thrower.