Srinagar, May 14,2012: At least 12 policemen came to the ground in University camps in Srinagar and started beating up the players. The students of Kashmir University staged a protest against the Indian police for roughing up cricket players and conducting aerial firing in the camps, today.
Indian policemen resorted to aerial firing and use of brute force against the KU student cricket players when a cricket ball went inside the residence of the Vice-Chancellor during a cricket match today. The policemen appeared in the cricket ground and went berserk. “They beat up the players and resorted to aerial firing. Players sustained injuries in police action,” witnesses said.
The students in the classes came out and staged a protest demonstration against the brutalities of police.
"When a cricketer went to fetch the ball, a policeman deployed for the vice-chancellor's security upbraided him for trespassing into restricted area. They also abused him. The player also stated something in response and then returned to the ground," said Majid Ahmad, captain of Kashmir Greats.
Majid said they resumed the match, but after an hour nearly 12 policemen came to the ground and started beating up the players. "We were shocked when one of the policemen opened fire. The bullets hit the wickets. They could have hit any of us" he said.
Majid added that umpire Danish Ahmad was severely beaten up by the cops. "We will not play KPL in the campus till the cops are punished," he declared. news agencies
The incident took place when a cricket ball landed in the garden adjoining the university Vice Chancellor's office. As one of the players went to get the ball back, an armed police guard objected to his trespassing into the garden.
According to eyewitnesses, the policeman abused the player. The situation turned violent after sometime, when the policeman returned with his colleagues, started beating up the players and spectators and opened fire.