Published: March 13, 2010

Kashmiri Women Protest Arrest of Youth

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Srinagar, March 13: Hundreds of women in Kashmir took to roads and staged demonstrations to demand the release of the youth, who have been arrested on charges of throwing stones on police and paramilitary persons.

Dozen of youth in Srinagar and North Kashmir's Baramulla and Sopore township have been arrested by police for their alleged involvement in stone pelting. Kashmir has been witnessing growing incidents of stone pelting and protests.

On Saturday morning, hundreds of women took to roads at Azad Gunj, Baramulla, some 50 odd kms North of Srinagar and staged demonstrations. Chanting pro-Islamic, pro-freedom and anti-police slogans, the protesting women were demanding the release of the arrested youth.

"Most of the youth arrested by police are innocents and are not remotely involved in stone throwing. Police should release all the arrested youth," the protesting women demanded.

They blocked the vehicular traffic on the road for nearly two hours, causing a grave inconvenience to commuters and passengers.

The protesting women were also demanding the end to the police harassment. "Policemen barge into our homes and harass the inmates. They arrest the youth," they said.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.