Violent clashes between youth and government forces erupted in Old City as hundreds expressed solidarity with Palestine on Al Quds Day.Eyewitnesses told Srinagar-based news agency GNS that soon after Friday prayers, hundreds of youth staged pro-freedom, pro-Islam and pro-Palestine protests. The protesters shouted anti-India and anti-Israel slogans and also waved flags of ISIS and Pakistan. The protesters also waved two flags of Palestine and militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba.
While calling for Free Palestine, the protesters slammed silence of world community over the gross human rights violations being committed by Israel. Amidst sloganeering, the protesters started marching towards Khanyar. “However, when they reached near Naqashband Sahab Shrine, the police and paramilitary central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers intercepted them and lobbed teargas shells ensuing clashes,” the eyewitnesses said.
Besides teargas shells, the police resorted to pepper shelling and also chased away the youths. The clashes in the area continued for almost an hour during which the business and traffic came to halt.Official sources said four boys’ sustained injuries during the clashes. “But the injuries were not of grave nature,” they said.Following the clashes, large contingents of police and CRPF were deployed in area. Locals alleged that the CRPF troopers ransacked vehicles that were parked on the roads.Earlier, pro-freedom slogans rocked Jamia Masjid where Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed the people. (GNS)