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Opposition walks out of assembly in Kashmir over use of pellet guns to disperse protestors

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ANI Jammu

Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir walked out of the state assembly on Sunday protesting against the use of pellet guns, chilly grenade and other weapons to disperse protesters in Shopian district.

Reportedly, protesters were demanding bodies of youth who were alleged to be militants and were killed by security personnel.

The opposition said that use of such weapons led to loss of vision in many protesters.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti criticised the state government and accused it of being anti-youth.

"We want to ask the state government that we live in a sensitive state and you are using pellet guns against the youth. These are used for animals. And you are using chilly grenade. In last five years, FIR has been registered against thousands of innocent men. Under Public Safety Act, you are arresting children. So what is this happening in this state?" asked Mufti.

 

She added that two men, named Tariq Ahmed and Ghulam Mohidin, were injured after pellet guns were used on protesters in Shopian district during protests. Mufti said they had suffered severe injuries in their eyes and doctors had to refer them to Amritsar for treatment.

Mufti further added that the Omar Abdullah-led government should pay for the treatment and poor cannot afford the same.

Meanwhile members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too protested against the state government for its failure to regularize the jobs of daily wagers and casual labourers seeking a concrete regularisation of policy.

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First Published: Feb 16 2014 | 9:28 PM IST

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