Srinagar, Dec 11 (IANS) At least 30 protesters and 59 policemen were injured in clashes between stone pelting mobs and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital where life remained affected by a separatist shutdown.
Twelve photo-journalists covering the protests were also injured in the protest.

As many as 59 policemen, including some officers, were injured in the clashes with the protesters during the day in Srinagar city.

“Twenty policemen, including some officers, are now being treated in the hospital for injuries suffered in the daylong clashes here,” a senior police officer told IANS.

Reports also said nearly 30 protesters were injured in the clashes with the police here today.

According to police, mobs of young men resorted to heavy stone throwing at the police in the Maisuma area of Srinagar Friday morning.

“Police used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters. A boy identified as Faizan Dar, 14, was critically injured in the clashes while nine policemen and three protesters also sustained injuries in these clashes,” a police officer said.

The injured boy was immediately taken to a hospital and operated upon by the doctors to save his life.

Locals said the boy had suffered a bullet injury, but police denied having opened fire on the mob.

The clashes in Maisuma continued for the entire day. In the afternoon, six shops in the area caught fire.

While the locals claimed the fire was triggered by tear smoke shells fired at the protesters by the police, authorities denied the charge.

“We are investigating the cause of fire, but it definitely was not caused by a tear smoke shells,” a police official said.

Trouble also spread to the old city areas where hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was scheduled to address a Friday prayer congregation.

Geelani was carried in a procession by his supporters from the Naqshband Sahib shrine to Khankah-e-Movla mosque, where he was to address a Friday prayer congregation.

Police, however, intervened and used batons and tear smoke shells to disperse the procession.

Geelani was quickly taken away by his supporters from the spot.

He was later arrested by the police near the SMHS hospital in the city where he went to see the injured.

The angry protesters resorted to stone pelting at the police in the old city’s Bohri Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Khanyar, Safa Kadal and Kawdara areas where many persons, including policemen and protesters, were injured.