People resist against police crackdown on Newroz event in Batman

Amid an all-out ban on events to mark Kurdish New Year Newroz, police forces have staged a crackdown on thousands in the province of Batman as well.

Special operation police laid a siege around the Newroz area in Batman province earlier in the morning upon a ban on Newroz celebration set to take place today.

As thousands started to gather and light Newroz fire in Koçerler Boulevard in Bağlar neighborhood, police forces staged a crackdown with tear gas and water cannons. People responded to the police aggression with stones and barricades they built up on roads.

While people refuse to retreat in the face of attacks, 2 people including a 15-year-old got injured as a result of the aggression. One other person was battered and detained.

The resistance in Koçerler Boulevard has spread to other areas in Bağlar and Aydınlıkevler neighborhoods.

In the meantime, police have also attacked the mass that gathered and lit a fire at the entrance of the city to welcome HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş who will be attending today's Newroz event.