Violent protests rock Kashmir Valley, 30 injured

Srinagar, July 3 : Violent protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley after Friday prayers over the death of four youths in police firing and the disappearance of another young man. Over 30 people were injured in clashes between protestors and security forces.

Twenty people, including 10 security personnel, were injured in Anantnag town, which witnessed pitched street battles over the disappearance of the young man, Basharat Ahmad, who the Indian Army detained June 28.

The army has said that it freed him within hours. But there are few takers to this official version.

A religious leader in Anantnag, Qazi Yasir, had called for protests against Ahmad's disappearance.

Clashes also erupted after Friday prayers in Sopore town, where the police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) used tear gas and batons to disperse mobs protesting against the killing of four men earlier this week in Jammu and Kashmir.

A police officer said 10 people, including the cameraman of a local news channel, were injured in the melee.

Thousands defied curfew restrictions in north Kashmir's Baramulla town where the four were killed. They marched through the streets shouting slogans denouncing India and demanding independence.

Although the police fired tear gas and used batons in a bid to break up the rally, the defiant crowd managed to reach the town's Eidgah and offered afternoon prayers.

The cleric of the local mosque condemned the police firing and demanded action against the guilty.

Baramulla saw street clashes for most part of the day between the security forces and demonstrators till rains came to the rescue of the beleaguered administration.

Protests were also held in south Kashmir towns of Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama where mobs stoned police and CRPF personnel.

Similar violence was also witnessed in Srinagar -- after the Friday prayers.

The clashes triggered tension in the city and led to the closure of shops and businesses that had opened Friday after a three-day shutdown.

--IANS