Two non-Kashmiris held for stone-pelting in J038;K

The police used video clips to identify the two men as Mohammad Afzal,a resident of Uttar Pradesh and Mohammad Ibrahim Sheikh,a resident of West Bengal.

The Valley has been under curfew for the past three days as violent protests took place in several parts of Anantnag and adjacent villages over the alleged desecration of the Quran and the killing of civilians in Gool.

Although a number of non-Kashmiris reside in Kashmir during the summer months,this is the first time in two decades the police have arrested any citizen of another state for stone pelting during protests.

Police sources say non-Kashmiris usually stay away from protests,but the two might have gotten involved due to the alleged desecration of the Quran.

They also said that more that one lakh non-Kashmiris mostly skilled and unskilled labourers reside in the Valley.

The police have in the past made it mandatory for non-Kashmiris to register themselves at the local police station as they fear militants may enter the Valley under the guise of non-Kashmiri labourers.