Turkish troops wound one human shield and arrest 13
Turkish soldiers fired tear gas at civilians trying to prevent a military operation in Yüksekova district, wounding one man. 13 people were also arrested.
ANF
HAKKARİ
Wednesday, 20 May 2015, 12:00
Turkish soldiers fired tear gas at civilians trying to prevent a military operation in Yüksekova district, wounding one man. 13 people were also arrested. Soldiers are also reported to have killed many mules.
A military operation involving hundreds of special team soldiers supported by helicopters is continuing in the Ispiriz mountains in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari province. People from nearby villages, including HDP candidate Abdullah Zeydan and HDP and DBP administrators flocked to the area. As they attempted to climb to the summit of the mountain they were confronted by soldiers, who fired tear gas canisters. One man, named as Levent Dere, was injured when a gas canister hit him on the head. Dere was taken to Yüksekova in a vehicle.
13 citizens from the village of Dedeler were arrested.
As around a thousand people approached the summit, troops continued to fire tear gas. More military units were deployed to the areas of Tuyi and Nordeş in Şemdinli district.
Local people who went to the area said many mules had also been killed. They said the military operation was launched on the pretext of preventing smuggling and targeting areas under HPG guerrilla control.