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Sealed house reoccupied by police amid protests Demonstrations lathicharged, teargassed Kashmir Times, 30 Nov 2001 KT NEWS SERVICE SRINAGAR, Nov 29: Amid strong protest demonstration at Safa Kadal which was quelled by lathi-charge and lobbing tear gas shells, police today occupied the house which was earlier sealed under Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance. A big demonstration led by Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, chairman Human Rights Front, a local human rights organisation, today defied POTO by breaking the seal of the particular house. They Ghearoed the house, which was followed by breaking its seal, and then forced their entry into it. The family members also entered the house. But, immediately afterwards police swung into action and started pushing back the demonstrators. Dozens of teargas shells were lobbed and severe lathi-charge resorted to, to disperse the mob. "We broke open the outer gate of the house and entered its premises. But a large column of police surfaced on the spot and drove us out", Untoo, who managed to give police a slip, told KTNS. The protesters pelted stones at the police party and the clash continued for some time. They were also chanting slogans against the police action. Police latter occupied the house and took positions from within the structure. Abdul Qayoom, Superintendent of Police, North, when contacted, denied the house has been occupied. He said the authorities have put the security for its protection. "Since it is in the interior city double guard comprising 10 cops including a havaldar from district police lines have been put on duty for its protection. This was done to avoid the structure being put on fire", he said. Asked that a large number of police force would be required to man such hide-outs as the number of sealings mount, he said, only such houses would be sealed which have been constructed as militant hide-outs. In the first case of its type in country, a house belonging to Gulam Mohammad Dar, it is recalled, was sealed on November 25 after evicting the inmates. The area is tense since with the people in the locality on protest. Untoo said his organisation is planning to stage a dharna at Lal Chowk tomorrow to protest the implementation of POTO. The family members would also participate in Dharna, he said. The eviction has forced the octogenarian mother of Dar, his wife, sister and two minor children to come on roads. Haseena, ailing mother of Dar said, it took them years to save money for its construction. "But within moments we were rendered homeless", she said. She said following the arrest of Dar, the only bread earner of the house, they have no means to run the family. "My husband passed away 27 years back, for years I single handed managed affairs of the house. Now, it was he who was running the house", she said. ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
