Five injured in clashes in north Kashmir

At least five persons were injured as pro-freedom protesters hurled stones at security personnel in Baramulla in north Kashmir shortly after Friday prayers prompting them to use force to restore order.

Groups of youth, chanting pro-freedom slogans took to the streets in Baramulla town, 55 kms from here and indulged in stone-pelting on police and CRPF personnel, official sources said.

Police fired a few warning shots, burst dozens of teargas shells and used batons to restore order.

Five persons were injured so far in the clashes which were going on at different places in Baramulla, they said, adding, reinforcements have been rushed to the area to tackle the situation.

Meanwhile, Jamia Masjid area in downtown Srinagar remained peaceful although shopkeepers in the area observed a shutdown after police picked up two more youths late this afternoon.

Violent protests have become a regular feature in the localities around Jamia Masjid on Fridays and Sundays over the past two years, but this time police launched a massive crackdown to check stone-pelting incidents, detaining hundreds of youths since the beginning of this month.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive localities including Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara and Kawdara, the trouble spots in the old city where shopkeepers pulled shutters to protest the arrest of the youths, the sources said.