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Youth, Soldier Injured in Kashmir Clashes

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 12: Clashes broke out between youth and police and paramilitary soldiers in Indian administered Kashmir on Friday, injuring a youth and a paramilitary soldier.

A group of youth emerged at Nowhatta and Gojwara areas in Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir after Friday prayers and tried to take out demonstration. Chanting pro-freedom, pro-Islamic and anti-India slogans, they were demanding release of the arrested youth.

The agitating youth were intercepted by police and paramilitary soldiers, who were deployed in strength in the area. The cops lobbed tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the youth, who retaliated by hurling bricks and stones.

The clashes continued for some time during which a youth sustained injuries.

The injured was identified as Suhail Khan. He had sustained head injury and was immediately shifted to SKIMS Soura for treatment.

Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Amin Tabish said his condition was stable.

Police have arrested more than dozen youth from old city areas after last Friday's clashes in Nowhatta and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out between youth and paramilitary soldiers at Chanakhan and Chinkipora Sopore in North Kashmir in the evening.

The youth took to roads to protest against the recent custodial death of 26-year-old Sopore youth Nazim Rashid Shalla. They clashed with police and paramilitary soldiers, who were deployed in the area. The cops lobbed tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the agitating youth, who retaliated by hurling bricks and stones towards them.

"Four youth were arrested by policemen during the clashes. A paramilitary CRPF man was also injured in the ding dong battle," the locals said.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.