Clashes in Srinagar
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Srinagar, India, Feb 12, IRNA -- Protests again broke out in sensitive Maisuma quarter of the capital with federal police deployed there clashing with the people who are demanding their eviction from the area.
The angry protesters targeted police and CRPF personnel in Maisuma, a commercial hub and JKLF stronghold, adjacent to city centre Lal Chowk.
The CRPF fired in air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters who kept on regrouping from the bylanes of the densely populated area nicknamed, Gaza strip of Srinagar.
Markets in the area closed following the eruption of fresh clashes.
The fresh trouble started early this week when a CRPF contingent, stationed in a camp located in a Hindu trust complex, descended on the area on Tuesday afternoon and caught hold of local traders, beating them mercilessly. The action sparked off a large protest after announcements were made on loudspeakers of local mosques.
The protesters tried to march to Lal Chowk in a procession, but were blocked by the police, upon which groups of youth, chanting pro-freedom and Islamic slogans began pelting stones at the riot police and CRPF.
The State government has ordered a probe into Tuesday's incident and asked Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kashmir to hold an inquiry into the incident.
However local residents are demanding immediate eviction of the troops, whom they accuse of unruly behaviour.
Meanwhile, Indian army claimed to have shot dead an activist of Hizbul Mujahedin in central district of Budgam after a brief gunbattle.
A Defence Ministry spokesman told IRNA that troops of 22 Rashtrya Rifles, a counter insurgency force, killed Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, who he described as a militant of Hizb in Mazbug village which had been cordoned off for searches early today.
The operation was continuing when reports last came in Thursday afternoon, he added.
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