PESAHWAR: Several protesters were seriously injured when police used baton charges and tear gas against Peace march protesters, who were coming toward the provincial Assembly to record their protest against growing lawlessness in the province.
When the participants of the peace march tried to move forward in the Hayatabad area of Peshawar and adjacent highways, the police fired heavily to stop them. As a result of this action, clouds of tear gas filled the air, which badly affected not only the participants of the march but also the people of the nearby residential areas.
The heavy firing of tear gas left many people in a state of distress, dozens of whom fell unconscious due to suffocation. The victims included a large number of elderly and young people who were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals, especially the Hayatabad Medical Complex, for medical assistance. According to eyewitnesses, the firing was so intense that people faced difficulty in breathing and complained of severe burning in the eyes, while there are also reports of several people being injured in the stampede.
Police officials maintain that this step was taken to prevent protesters from moving towards sensitive areas, while on the other hand, the organizers of the march have called it state violence against peaceful citizens. At present, tension remains in the area and more police personnel have been called in.
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