Jammu: Eight persons including a DDC (District Development Council) member were arrested over a stone pelting incident that took place on Saturday during protests in the Malik Market area of Jammu against an anti-encroachment drive on ‘State land.’
Notably, Jammu residents e resorted to minor stone-pelting and protests during an anti-encroachment drive at Malik Market on Saturday at a time when four JCBs (earthmovers) were demolishing a commercial building in presence of civil administration, and a strong deployment of police forces.
J&K Police said that people pelted stones on teams carrying out eviction drive at Malik Market and also damaged vehicles, thereby creating a 'law and order problem.
“Police had to fire teargas shells to disperse the protesters and to keep the situation under control,” an official told KNO.
A case under relevant sections of law was registered after the incident and an investigation was set into motion during which many ‘stone pelters’ have been identified, he said.
“So far eight people have been arrested including some identified stone pelters and few other people on the charges of instigating the people,” he added.
One of the arrested persons was identified as Mehraj Malik, a DDC member of the Aam Aadmi Party from Doda. However, others' identity wasn’t revealed.