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Clashes after Friday prayers in some Srinagar areas

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/25/2017 1:09:53 PM

SRINAGAR, Feb 24: Protests followed by clashes occurred after Friday prayers in some areas of Kashmir.
Protests and clashes erupted in Nowhatta area of Srinagar city shortly after the congregational Friday prayers. Reports said that scores of youth waving green flags clashed with government forces which retaliated with tear-smoke shells. The clashes left many people injured.
JKLF staged a protest near Budshah Chowk and Lal Chowk against Kunan-Poshpora mass rape. JKLF leaders Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi, Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Javed Ahmad Zargar, Muhammad Yasin Butt, Siraj ud din Mir, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, and Muhammad Sideeq Shah, Ashraf bin Salam and others participated in the rally and protest sit-in. Leaders and activists displaying placards and raising slogans against attacks on women marched towards Lal Chowk and staged a protest sit-in near Budshah chowk. JKLF vice chairman Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi and others addressed the rally and sit-in.
A JKLF spokesman said that while condemning the Kunan-Poshpora Rape incident by army, JKLF leaders said that victims of Indian oppression and state sponsored terrorism have been deprived of justice till today which is highly condemnable. The rally and sit-in concluded peacefully.
Pertinently, separatist leadership had called off the strike in wake of the Mahashivratri festival. There was no strike, however owing to the official holiday and festival, thin vehicular movement was observed on the roads.
Clashes erupted between protesters and government forces in north Kashmir’s Sopore town after congregational Friday prayers. Reports said groups of youth tried to take a march from Jamia Masjid area, slogans, but were stopped by the government forces which were deployed in strength. As the forces barred the youth to take out a march, stone hurling clashes ensued in the area. Forces responded by firing teargas shells to disperse the protesters.
A peaceful protest was also carried out at Soiteng Padshahibagh in Srinagar. The protesters carrying placards and banners demanded release of detainees languishing in different state and outside jails.
Reports said that a massive protest rally was carried out at Frisal area of Kulgam town. Amid slogans the protesters marched lanes and bylanes of the district and offered special prayers for the militants and civilians killed in different encounters in Valley. A minor incident of stone-pelting was reported from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Reports said that a group of youth pelted stones on a police party near Muran Chowk.