Published: August 03, 2007

Supporters of Moderates and Hardliners Clash in Srinagar

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For the first time, after the split in the separatist conglomerate, Huriyat Conference, among the hardliners and moderates in the restive Kashmir Valley, the supporters of the two factions clashed in the summer capital, Srinagar.

The Huriyat Conference remained a single entity until 2002, but after one of the constituents of the separatist conglomerate participated in the elections in Kashmir, the conglomerate was divided into two factions. Syed Ali Shah Geelani leads a hardline faction while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq leads the moderate faction.

The clash between the supporters of the two factions began this afternoon, when a group of supporters of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq began to shout pro-Mirwaiz slogans while Syed Ali Shah Geelani was addressing a gathering of youth in Rajouri Kadal, stronghold of Mirwaiz. Geelani's supporters told them to behave and leave the place since Geelani was addressing the crowd.

However, turning down their request, Mirwaiz's supporters continued to raise anti-Geelani and pro-Mirwaiz slogans. Afterwards they began to throw stones and bottles at the crowd listening to the speech of Geelani. Geelani's supporters retaliated by hurling stones at the supporters of Mirwaiz and chased them away.

Geelani has been slowly and steadily making inroads in the stronghold of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

While the clash was going on, Geelani asked his supporters to maintain calm and keep their cool. Later some elderly citizens of the area intervened and brought the situation under control.

Afterwards, Geelani addressed the people without any interruption from any quarter.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.