At least 70 people including 18 policemen were injured on Friday in Srinagar, as fierce clashes marked the general strike called by hardline Hurriyat leaders here against the alleged illegal occupation of land by troops in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ten photo journalists were also injured in the clashes, besides a 14-year-old boy, Faizan Ahmad, who was hit by a bullet in the abdomen at Maisuma, the heart of the city, officials said.
The clash broke out when chairman of hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani led a massive procession in violation of prohibitory orders imposed by the district administration in view of the strike call in downtown Srinagar. The authorities had sealed the venue of the public meeting since early this morning.
As the procession started from Khawaja Bazar and reached Khankahi Moula after covering over 3 kms, police charged on the processionists, minutes before Geelani climbed on a vehicle to address the gathering, they said.
Angry youths took to the streets at several places and indulged in stone-pelting, prompting police and paramilitary forces to use teargas shells and batons.
At least 30 persons including 11 policemen were injured in the clash, officials said.
They said 35 others including seven policemen were injured in the subsequent clashes which spread to most parts of the interior city. Police fired warning shots, burst teargas shells and baton-charged to normalise the situation. PTI
