Thaindian News

Srinagar, June 19 (IANS) Over two dozen people were wounded in post-Friday prayer clashes between police and protesters in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital where separatists had asked people to march to Baramulla town.
Mobs gathered at Nowhatta, Gojiwara, Rajouri Kadal, Kawdara and some other localities of Old City after Friday prayers, resorting to heavy stone pelting at contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who had been deployed to thwart the day’s separatist march.

Police had to use batons and teargas as the protesters kept on re-grouping in the lanes and bylanes of the densely populated areas.

Over two dozen people, including three local photo-journalists, security men and protesters, were injured in these clashes.

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani had called for a march to Baramulla town in north Kashmir Friday to protest the rape and murder of two women, Neelofar (on Jan 22) and Asiya (Jan 17), in south Kashmir’s Shopian town last month.

Authorities had imposed restrictions under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Baramulla and Sopore towns declaring an assembly of four or more people as unlawful.

Restrictions had also been imposed beyond Pattan town, 30 km from here on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, to prevent the gathering of marchers.

Groups of urchins threw stones at police in Baramulla where authorities used restraint while tackling the protesters.