Srinagar: Local residents of Shatmuqam village and its adjoining areas in north Kashmir’s Lolab area staged nocturnal protest allegedly against high handedness of forces and arrest of some youth on Tuesday evening.

The locals said that a joint team of SOG and CRPF arrived in the village late on Tuesday evening and took into custody the three youths namely Abid Ahmad Shah, cousin brother of Hizb Ul Mujahideen militant Bilal Ahmad Shah, Shaft Ahmad Lone and Abdul Hameed Mir of Krusan  for questioning.

Following the arrest of the youth, the forces according to locals allegedly ransacked several houses and damaged their windowpanes.

According to locals, the highhandedness and  ransacking triggered nocturnal protests .

Earlier, unknown persons overpowered a policeman and snatched his service rifle (INSAS) while performing his duty at Kandhar area of Maidanpora adjacent to Shatmuqam in Lolab.

“One youth Abid Ahmad Shah has been arrested for questioning in connection with the rifle snatching incident at Kandhar Lolab,” SSP Kupwara Ambarkar Sriram Dinkar said.

He said that more arrests with regard to the incident are expected. (GNS)