Baramulla, Mar 5 (UNI) Police fired in the air and also burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators who had blocked the Srinagar-Uri highway at Pattan, demanding the arrest of surrendered militants involved in theft and other crimes.

About three thousand people, including women, today took to the streets at Nehalpora and after marching through different streets, blocked the highway at Pattan.

The demonstrators alleged that some surrendered militants working with the security forces were indulging in theft and other crimes at Nehalpora for the past 20 days.

They said a number of shops and houses were burgled by these persons who were being protected by security forces in their camps.

Demanding their immediate arrest, they said these people were committing atrocities on common people and looting their property and later taking shelter in security force camps in the area.

Police resorted to a lathicharge and also burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators from the highway.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the other side of the highway.

Police later fired several rounds in the air after lathicharge and teargas shells failed to have an affect on the demonstrators.

UNI