Police fire in air to disperse mob in south Kahsmir

Sriangar, July 02, 2009: Two people were critically injured today when police opened fire to disperse a violent mob, who set afire a police vehicle as it injured three people in south Kashmir district of Pulwama. However, police said they were injured after being hit by a tear gas shell. Official sources said the trouble started after three people were injured when they were hit by a vehicle of District Police Lines (DPL), at Pulwama.

Police said the driver of the vehicle tried to save the mob who had blocked the road and were pelting stones on passing vehicles when the two were hit and injured.

The mob stoned the vehicle and later set it on fire, they said.

Police resorted to firing after bursting of teargas shells and repeated lathicharge had no impact.

Sources said the two people were injured with bullet wounds.

One of the injured, who had received four bullet wounds was admitted to SMMS Hospital whereas another was shifted to Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura in a critical condition.

The situation was tense, sources said adding senior police and civil officials have rushed to the area.

(UNI)