Five people, including two women were injured on Monday after government forces resorted to teargas shelling to disperse protesters who were demanding registration of an FIR against Central reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers who thrashed a driver in Pantha Chowk in Srinagar outskirts.

Eyewitnesses said people took to streets and staged protests against thrashing of a driver by troopers of 29 BN after he failed to halt his vehicle at the point where he was signaled to stop on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

They said protest demonstration triggered a massive traffic jam on the highway, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded.

“After the driver was beaten by CRPF trooper, the locals including the passengers assembled at the spot and staged massive protests which halted the traffic movement on the highway for hours,” the eyewitnesses said.

Eyewitnesses said the driver stopped his vehicle few metres away which infuriated the troopers who thrashed the driver,” eyewitnesses said.

The driver parked his vehicle on the road to protest against the CRPF men, it said, adding that hundreds of people, including drivers and commuters, joined the protest soon.

They said the forces deployed in the area lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to five persons, including two women.

Meanwhile, the injured driver was identified as Firdous Ahmad of Frestbal. He was shifted to JVC hospital in Bemina where from he was referred to SKIMS for specialized treatment

Eyewitnesses said thousands of vehicles were stranded on Srinagar-Jammu highway from Sempora to Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar.

This triggered a massive traffic jam on the highway, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

Eyewitnesses said the driver after being beaten parked his vehicle on the highway resulting in massive traffic jam. “Army convoy was also stopped due to the traffic jam,” they said.

Witnesses said the police officials who were present at the spot persuaded the people who assembled at the scene to protest against the highhandedness of CRPF men. “But the people continued their protests for hours which halted the traffic,” they said.

Guest