J&K: Youth's death triggers protest in Sopore

A massive protest broke out in Sopore town of north Kashmir on Tuesday evening as the body of a youth was fished out from Jhelum after he allegedly jumped into the river to escape police action.

Zuber-ul-Hassan Bhat, 20, resident of Jamia Kadim area of Sopore, along with a few others jumped into the river in Hathishah area earlier in the day when they were chased by the police, as the town witnessed clashes between stone pelting youths and law enforcing agencies, official sources said.

While rest of the youths swam to the shore, Zuber drowned in the river even as locals made frantic efforts to save him, they said.

As the body was fished out o Tuesday evening, hundreds of people gathered at Hathishah Mohalla and protested against the incident.

The protestors are demanding stern action against the policemen who allegedly forced Zuber and others to jump into the river.

Senior police officers were persuading the protestors to disperse, the sources said.

Initially, the police denied that the youth had drowned but confirmed it when the body was fished out.