Over 500 cases against ‘rioters’ in S Kashmir during unrest

Srinagar, Aug 23 (PTI) Over 500 cases have been lodgedagainst "rioters and anti-national elements" in the fourdistricts of south Kashmir in the last 44 days, with 381"miscreants" arrested, officials said today. "All the police stations and posts in south Kashmir(comprising Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts)are fully functional and are working round-the-clock, alongwith the other security agencies, to bring the situation undercontrol. "In the last 44 days, the police have registered 537 casesagainst rioters and anti-national elements. As many as 381miscreants have been arrested and several rioters injured inpolice and security forces action while controlling thelaw-and-order situation," a government spokesman said here. He said the state police has remained at the forefrontwhile dealing with the situation. "Police have risen to the occasion and faced thechallenges with tremendous restraint, despite graveprovocations in the form of mobs attacking theirestablishments, vehicles and personnel," the spokesman said. Refuting reports of militant training camps being run inthe Valley, he said, "There is a very high concentration ofsecurity forces at Tral due to the ongoing problems and thereis no input regarding any terrorist training camp being run." Kashmir is on the boil since July 9, a day after HizbulMujahideen commander Burhan Wani, a resident of Tral, waskilled along with two of his associates, in an encounter withthe security forces at Kokernag area of south Kashmir. The ensuing widespread clashes between protesters and lawenforcing agencies have left 65 persons dead so far and over8,000 injured, mostly in the districts of south Kashmir. PTIMIJ TA RC SKRC