Srinagar: Protest demonstrations against the US-led war on Iraq and Nadimarg
massacre turned violent at many places in Jammu and Kashmir with the protestors
indulging in stone-pelting, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge and
bursting of teargas shells.
The protests were staged shortly after Friday prayers with former Hurriyat
Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umer Farooq leading one of the demonstrations at
Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar calling for an impartial probe into the killing of
24 Kashmiri Pandits and an immediate end to the war on Iraq, sources said.
The rally ended peacefully, they said, adding some youth on their return indulged in
stone-pelting, forcing the police to use teargas shells to disperse
them.
Police personnel had a tough time chasing stone-throwing protestors who also set
ablaze American flag and effigies of President Bush during demonstrations at various
places, the sources said.
Police fired dozens of teargas shells at Malatang in Sonawar, Dalgate and Maisuma in
the city. However, no one was injured in the clashes, they said.
Hundreds of people took out a procession from Sayed Sahib shrine at Sonawar to the
local office of United Nations Military Observers' Group where Muslim Auqaf Trust
vice chairman G N Kochak submitted a memorandum demanding an end to the
war.
Peaceful protest demonstrations after Friday prayers were reported from Kupwara and
Baramulla in North, Anantnag and Pulwama in South and Badgam in Central
Kashmir.
PTI
