Several hurt in renewed streets clashes in Srinagar, Sopore

Srinagar: Several people were on Friday injured in renewed clashes between protesting youth and security forces in Kashmir.

The scenic Valley is on the boil again following the killing of nine persons in security forces’ firing on protesters and stone-pelting mobs during the April 9 by-poll in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The tensions heightened further following more than fifty students suffered injuries in security forces actions in southern Pulwama town on April 15. Since then nearly 150 more students have been injured in clashes with security forces. The class work in colleges and some high and higher secondary schools remained suspended on the fifth running day on Friday and Internet services snapped after the student unrest spread to more areas during the week continue to be partially shut.

The fresh clashes were reported from a couple of areas in summer capital Srinagar and north-western town of Sopore. The security forces fired dozens of teargas canisters and swung bamboo sticks to push the stone-pelting youth into dark alleys of Srinagar’s Maisuma locality, the witnesses said. Clashes were reported also from parts of central Srinagar.

An alliance of key separatist leaders had asked the people to hold peaceful protests for one hour across the Valley after Friday prayers. The pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference held solidarity marches for the agitating students.

An official spokesman here said that the teaching work in all the colleges of the Kashmir division will remain suspended also on Saturday “as a precautionary measure”. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, held a meeting with top officials including the Valley’s DCs to review functioning of educational institutions. He asked the principals of these institutions who also attended the meeting “to adopt proactive approach in dealing with any untoward incidents on campuses and focus on ensuring peaceful atmosphere at their institutions”. He also called for involving faculty members for counselling the students on regular basis and not to allow any outsider into their respective institute premises.