Clashes rock South, North Kashmir

Srinagar: At-least six persons were injured, one of them seriously, in police and CRPF action in Pulwama and Baramulla districts of the Kashmir Valley on Friday, the third day of the Eid-ul-Azha festivities.

Official sources told a clash broke out between anti-India protesters and police in Rajpora and Muran Chowk in Southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district this afternoon.

They said that a group of youth took to streets soon after the Friday prayers. Police and paramilitary CRPF reached the spot and resorted to baton charge. However, they said, the protesters showed resistance and resorted to stone-pelting on the heavy deployments of the uniformed men. The police and CRPF fired teargas canisters, to disperse the protesters who continued to re-group after scattering monetarilly. Three persons were injured in the police and CRPF action, they said. One among them, Nazir Ahmad Rather of Washbugh Pulwama sustained serious injury when a bullet hit him on the leg. He was later rushed to Bones and Joints Hospital here for specialized treatment, they added.

In Northern Baramulla district, clashes erupted soon after the Friday prayers in Khanpora and later spread to adjoining areas including cement Bridge.

Sources said that deployments of police and CRPF fired few rounds in air and burst teargas shells to disperse the stone-pelting protesters. As the teargas canisters and aerial firing failed to disperse the protesters, police alleged fired pallets at the angry demonstrators who were shouting slogans in favour of ‘freedom’ and against India. Three persons sustained wound in the police action, the sources added.

Police also arrested three youth for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting in the Pulwama district. They have been identified as Jan Mohammed, Imitiyaz Ahmad son of Ghulam Mohidin and Imtiyaz Ahmad son of Asadullah Bhat.

Meanwhile, minor clashes were reported from old city’s Nowhatta area and Magarmal bagh near Tagore Hall. Elsewhere, life remained normal as shops and other business establishments were open while traffic plied normally.