Mob attacks J&K Minister's house in Anantnag

SRINAGAR: Police fired in air and lobbed tear gas shells after a mob attacked the ancestral house of Jammu and Kashmir education minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed in Anantnag district on Sunday.

"A mob resorted to heavy stone pelting on the house of Sayeed at Damhal-Khushipora in Kokernag area", 55 kms from here, a police spokesman said, adding police fired tear smoke shells to disperse the attackers which left one unidentified person injured.

The minister, who had gone to his native place to celebrate Eid and was present in the house along with his family, escaped unhurt.

"A police party has evacuated the minister to safety and no one from his family was hurt in the incident," official sources said.

Sources said police also fired several rounds in air to control the situation as the protesters tried to storm the house of the Congress leader.

Local Congress workers owing allegiance to Sayeed had staged protests on Saturday against frequent strikes called by the separatist leaders.

The situation in the area continues to be tense, the sources said adding additional police and paramilitary CRPF personnel have been rushed to the spot.