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Protesting Bhutto's Killing, Youth Clash With Police in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Dec 28: The youth in Srinagar protesting the assassination of former Pakistan premier, Benazir Bhutto, clashed with police today.

The clashes broke this morning when a group of youth carrying pictures of Benazir took to the roads at Maisuma, Srinagar. Raising pro-Pakistan, pro-Benazir and anti-India slogans, the protesting youth blocked the road and burnt tyres. They were also raising anti-America and anti-Israel slogans.

A police contingent rushed to the spot and resorted to a baton charge and fired dozens of tear gas shells to disperse the agitating people. The protesting youth retaliated by hurling stones and bricks towards the cops. The ding dong battle between the police and protestors lasted for nearly an hour.

After the Friday prayers, the youth took to streets at Nowhatta, some five kilometers from summer capital Srinagar. Chanting pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, the protestors clashed with police and para-military personnel, who were deployed in the area to thwart people from staging protest demonstrations. The police and para-military personnel fired tear gas shells and resorted to a heavy baton charge to quell the demonstration. The agitating youth re-grouped and lobbed bricks and stones towards the police and para-military personnel. The clashes continued for more than an hour.

Minor clashes between youth and police were also reported from some other places in Kashmir, where security arrangements were intensified after Bhutto's assassination.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.