There were inputs that terrorists may take advantage and attack protesters: Police

Srinagar: J&K Police on Friday defended the “action” against the protesters in Budgam claiming there were “inputs that terrorists may take advantage” of the  situation and may attack the protesters in order to “create communal clash”

Police on Friday fired tear gas and used mild lathi charge to disperse Kashmiri Pandits protesters in Budgam who took to the streets against the killings of Rahul Bhat who was shot dead in his office premises on Thursday.  The police action against protesting Pandits evoked criticism.
A police spokesman said the protesters were adamant to block the Airport road and did not pay any heed and instead managed to travel a distance of about one kilometre from Sheikhpora.
“Given the topography of the area and huge rush at the Airport road there were inputs that terrorists may take advantage of the same and may attack the protesters in order to create communal clash/tension,” a police spokesman said.
“Therefore in view of this, while sensing the security of the protesters who had resorted to violence and neglected the pacification requests by administration and to thwart evil designs of ANEs (anti national elements), police were constrained to finally hurl few teargas smokes to disperse them,” the spokesman said.
He said the protesters again re-assembled at Sheikhpora road and sat on protest and blocked the main road.
“Later on all of them went back to their homes,” he said.
Giving sequence of the events, the spokesman said today at about 11 am protesters who were protesting against yesterday’s killing of an employee at Chadoora had blocked the main Sheikhpora Budgam road since yesterday afternoon and suddenly they started moving towards Airport road.
He said the magistrate repeatedly requested and tried to pacify the protesters not to proceed towards the very busy and overcrowded Airport road.
“However, protesters while ignoring such persuasions and repeated requests from the administration, kept on moving towards the said road while forcibly breaking all the physical barriers en-route and pushing the police & Security Forces who were peacefully trying to persuade/stop them from moving ahead,” he said.
UNI