Protests rock Srinagar after Friday prayers

SRINAGAR - Two dozen protesters including some cops were wounded in anti-India protests in summer capital Srinagar and north Kashmir towns of Baramulla and Sopore after the Friday prayers.

For the third day running, protesters took to the streets in the Maisuma locality of the city as angry youth shouting slogans clashed with police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the area.

The protesters pelted stones at steel-helmeted policemen in Maisuma. The clashes later spread to the city centre Lal Chowk, the scene of a 23-hour long standoff between the two fidayeens and security forces.

Tension ran high in the city centre as security forces shelled tear smoke and baton charged the crowd to restore order.

The clashes led to closure of shops in the area. After the Friday prayers, the protests and clashes erupted in city downtown areas as also north Kashmir Baramulla and Sopore towns.

A senior police officer said two dozen people were wounded in the clashes. The condition of an 18-year-old youth who was injured after being hit by a bullet in Lal Chowk late Friday evening is stated to be critical.

Mohammad Inayat Khan, a resident of Dalgate in city uptown, is being treated at the Soura Medical Institute here.

The authorities have beefed up security in the city centre and adjacent areas and heavily armed police and CRPF troopers were patrolling the market hub.