Violent protests in Kashmir Valley, dozens hurt

SRINAGAR - Over a dozen people, including five security men, were injured in incidents of stone pelting by protesters in the shutdown-hit Kashmir valley Wednesday.

Life was thrown out of gear in summer capital Srinagar due to a separatist-sponsored shutdown and strict curfew-like-restrictions imposed in major parts of the city by authorities but protesters took to the streets in many areas.

Authorities had deployed police and paramilitary contingents in the Old City as well the Civil Line areas in the morning to enforce security restrictions. Government offices, banks, educational institutions and shops remained shut in Srinagar and other towns in the Valley.

The hardline Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference had asked people to stage sit-in protests on the roads to protest against alleged human rights violations in the Valley.

But as stone-pelting youths took to the streets and burnt tyres, police used tear gas and batons to disperse the mobs in uptown areas of Rambagh and Natipora.

Police said mobs pelted stones at passing vehicles and security forces who intervened to restore order.

Mobs also tried to stage sit-in protests on roads in Kralpora, Chakpora, Saidakadal and Tankipora areas here but were dispersed by the police.

Protesters blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Singhpora and Palhallan towns also and were removed by baton-wielding policemen.

Incidents of stone pelting and protests were reported from Baramulla, Langate and Kralgund in north Kashmir and south Kashmir towns of Anantnag and Shopian.

Over a dozen people, including five security men, were wounded in Wednesday’s clashes, a police officer said.

The law and order situation was reviewed here in the evening at a high-level meeting attended by senior police and paramilitary officers.