GILGIT, Feb 4: Police on Saturday detained eight nationalist leaders and activists in Gilgit after breaking up a demonstration held in protest against the construction of Bhasha Dam.

Witnesses said that nationalist leaders had planned to take out a peaceful rally against the proposed dam. “As soon as they (protesters) came out of a local hotel around 12:15pm, the police pounced on them and snatched their loudspeakers and banners,” said Mustafa, an eyewitness.

Policemen backed by Rangers personnel baton-charged the protesters and fired tear-gas shells in their direction in an attempt to get them to disperse. They dragged the leaders of the demonstration into police vehicles and put them behind bars.

Police said more than six protesters, including two policemen, were injured in clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel.

According to an eyewitness, the district police chief, Raji Rahmat, himself started beating Baloristan Labour Party chief organizer Ahsan Ali and his colleagues pelted him with stones.

Sources said that police had detained Baloristan Labour Party chief organizer Ahsan Ali, Karakoram National Movement chairman Mumtaz Nagari and its secretary Dr Amjad Changezi, JKLF leaders Ziaul Haque and Shahid Hussain, Labour Party leader Babajan, and two JKLF activists Usman and Akramullah.

The sources said a local hotel manager had been arrested for allowing the protesters to hold a meeting inside the hotel prior to the demonstration.

Some witnesses said that tear-gas shells had exploded in areas close to residential compounds and schools and caused panic among women, teachers and schoolchildren.

Some angry residents called for the removal of Gilgit SP Raji Rahmat and demanded an inquiry against him.

In the meantime the protesters smashed the rear screen of a police vehicle which was in the use of Mr Rahmat.

On Saturday, the Baloristan Labour Party, JKLF, Karakoram National Movement, Balawaristan National Front and Balore Research Forum leaders strongly condemned the police action and termed it as “a brazen violation of human rights in the region”.

They said that although they had informed the local deputy commissioner about their intention to hold a peaceful rally they had been denied permission. They demanded immediate release of their detained leaders and activists.

A human rights crusader, Israruddin Israr, demanded an inquiry into the police action against its leaders and activists of various nationalist parties.

Although the government allows thousands of people to hold rallies in the four provinces, he said, it is not ready to grant the people of Gilgit their right to protest.