PROTESTS ERUPT AFTER FRIDAY PRAYERS IN SRINAGAR

SRINAGAR :The police resorted to force and firing in the air to disperse angry youth after protests erupted in old city on Friday.

However, the separatists had urged people to protest peacefully against the killings of youths after Friday prayers throughout the Valley.

Scores of youth assembled at Nawhatta area after Friday prayers and threw stones towards police and CRPF deployed in the area.

Police retaliated by firing dozens of tear smoke-shells. The protesters were also seen carrying green flags. “When the youths encircled two police gypsies and attacked them with stones at Rajouri Kadal Chowk, the police opened fire in air to scare away the stone-pelters,” an eyewitness told HT.

Meanwhile, JKLF vice-chairman Showkat Ahmad Bakhshi and others were detained when they were holding a protest march towards Budshah Chowk in city centre Lal Chowk, a party spokesperson said. The spokesperson said when the protesters reached Budshah Chowk, police used force to detain them.

While strongly condemning the police action, the spokesperson quoted JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik saying for past many months, this sit-in programme announced by the ‘United Resistance Leadership’ had been held peacefully but today, the police without any provocation used aggression against this programme.”

JKLF VICECHAIRMAN SHOWKAT AHMAD BAKHSHI DETAINED WHILE HOLDING A PROTEST MARCH TOWARDS LAL CHOWK