Police ends scuffle over water scarcity with teargas shells in Shopian

SHOPIAN — A massive teargas shelling was reported from Pinjura area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday after a scuffle occurred between two villages over water scarcity.

According to reports reaching here, Shaksaz Mohalla of Pinjura was facing acute shortage of drinking water supply after which they approached concerned department for erection of water pipes in the area.

However, on Thursday afternoon when technical staff of PHE was employed there, people from adjoining village Asthan Mohalla objected and stopped officials from the job and they contended that if they didn’t have water for their own, how could they share the water with other areas.

AEE Shopian, Mueed Rasool, said that they reached the area to erect the pipes but locals objected which caused uncertainty at the spot.

In the meanwhile, people from Asthan Mohalla and Shaksaz Mohalla resorted to heavy scuffle which caused law and order problem in the area. However, police swung into action and used several teargas canisters to disperse the mob. Heavy tear gas shelling was going on when this report was filed.