Mohammad Shahid Dar
Agence India Press, Correspondent
July 16, 2009
Pahalgam

The death of a pony rider in a mishap triggered protests and shutdown in Pahalgam on Wednesday
A driver of Tata 407 passenger bus (JK03- 4543) carrying students from Islamabad, lost control over the vehicle near the Pahalgam Hotel and entered into a shop, critically wounding Gulam Hassan Wani, 43 of Pahalgam. The injured however succumbed at SKIMS. The death of Ghulam Hassan triggered massive protest in the area as the shopkeepers observed complete shutdown.
The protestors demanded immediate transfer of the SHO Pahalgam for diverting the traffic from the main road via another village road to Pahalgam.
The SHO Pahalgam, Manzoor Ahmad Beigh when contacted told the Agence India Perss that the protesters comprised of disgruntled persons who were terminated by the police department last year.
“About 20-40 guys pelted stones on the Police Station, DC office and SSP’s office which caused some damage to the government property,” he said adding that police fired tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charges to quell the protesters.
He also confirmed the arrest of bus driver who has been sent to police station Ashmuqam.
The yatra was going on despite protest, reports said adding the demonstrations were going on till last reports came in.