SRINAGAR: Mobs yesterday defied curfew-like restrictions to continue their protests for the second day running to demand the release of jailed separatist leaders.
Clashes erupted yesterday as people marched to a memorial service for 20-year-old Shahid Ahmed Ahangar, who was shot dead by security forces on Friday in Srinagar, the disputed region’s main city. Police say at least 23 others, including six soldiers, were injured in Friday’s clashes.
State authorities earlier in the day moved in heavy deployments of police and paramilitary into the old city areas and in the Maisuma locality of the uptown to prevent eruption of further violence.
On Friday afternoon, protests had erupted in several old city areas where hundreds of youth took to streets demanding the release of jailed separatist leaders detained during last year’s land row agitation. The protesters turned violent and indulged in heavy stone-pelting on the police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Despite heavy presence of police and CRPF troops, angry youth came on the streets in the Jogi Lankar, Rajouri Kadal areas of the old city and Maisuma locality of the uptown, shouting pro-independence slogans.
They later clashed with security forces who responded by firing tear gas and used batons to disperse the stone-pelters.
At least ten people were reported injured in yesterday’s clashes.
A senior police officer said the condition of another youth injured in police firing on Friday was now stable. He said the situation though still tense was ‘under control.’
Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, chairman of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) alleged that “New Delhi has handed over the reigns of Kashmir to its troopers who have unleashed a reign of terror on the people.”
“No movement is being allowed in our area. There is heavy presence of police and CRPF troops,” said Mohammad Ayub a resident of the old city. CRPF troopers carrying automatic weapons barricaded the main roads and intersections in the old city to prevent the movement of civilians and vehicular traffic.
