Srinagar, July 10: Several persons including a photojournalist were injured after violent protests erupted in Nowhatta area of Old City on Friday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses told Srinagar-based news agency GNS that soon after Friday congregational prayers, dozens of youth assembled in the Nowhatta Chowk and started massive anti-India and pro-freedom sloganeering. The youth, who were holding Pakistan and Islamic State (IS) flags, started marching towards Khanyar. “At Khanyar, the marchers’ pelted stones on police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) triggering clashes between the two sides,” the witnesses said.
The youth resorted to heavy stone-pelting on forces while the police also fired scores of teargas shells to disperse the protesters. The clashes between the two sides continued for several hours during which several persons including a photojournalist identified as Shiekh Irfan was injured.
Irfan, who works with Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, was hit by a stone on his head and was immediately removed to hospital. The scribe received four stitches on his head.
The clashes later spread to Khwaja Bazar and Nowhatta areas of the downtown. (GNS)