Seven injured as protesters, police clash in Srinagar

Protesters throw stones at soldiers, as others take cover from stones being returned from securitymen, during a demonstration in Srinagar.

At least seven persons including two securitymen were injured on Friday during clashes between police and local youths in the vicinity of the Jamia Masjid in the interior of the city.

The trouble started at Nowhatta, Gojwara and adjoining localities on Friday evening when several groups of young people indulged in stone-pelting at police and paramilitary forces, official sources said.

Police fired teargas shells and used batons to disperse the mob, the sources said, adding the clashes were going on when last reports were received and so far seven persons including two securitymen were injured.

Normal life came to a halt in the old city as shopkeepers pulled down the shutters while traffic was diverted through other routes, they said.

The areas witnessed intense clashes early this month following the killing of a class VII student Wamik Farooq Wani, a resident of Rainawari locality, in teargas shelling by police at Rajouri Kadal on January 31.

Though the police suspended an assistant sub-inspector in connection with the death of the boy, the tension died down only after authorities put strict restrictions on the movement of the people on February 4 which continued till February 8.