Clashes spread to new areas of Valley

Protests and clashes against the recent murder of a Kashmiri trucker spread to new areas in the Valley on Friday whereas parts of summer capital Srinagar remained under curfew- like restrictions for the second day running to thwart planned protest sit- in by separatists.

Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who had called for the protest dharna at or had been detained by the police earlier.

No Friday congregational prayers could be held at Srinagar’s Grand Mosque which was surrounded by large number of police men and paramilitaries in riot gear earlier around dawn to enforce security lockdown. Police authorities said that security restrictions were imposed in seven police station areas of Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Maisuma and Kralkhud of Srinagar as a precautionary measure. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Srinagar.

Elsewhere in the Valley, stone- hurling crowds of youth clashed with security forces in several parts of southern Anantnag, Kulgam, and Pulwama districts. A youth identified as Adil was seriously injured when hit by a teargas shell at Imam Sahib in Shopian district during a violent protest against the slaying of two Hizb- ul- Mujahideen militants in an encounter with security forces earlier.

Street battles also intensified after midday Friday prayers.