25 people, including policemen injured in Kashmir clash

Srinagar, Jan 20 (UNI) More than 25 people, including several police personnel, were injured when police fired teargas shells and resorted to repeated baton charge to disperse violent mob in the down town city today.

The trouble started last night when people belonging to two sects of muslims clashed at Hawal in the down town city.

Official sources said windowpanes of several houses and vehicles were damaged in the clash.

They said this morning a large number of people belonging to one sect took to streets at Nowhatta and Gojwara and protested against last night's incident.

However, when they tried to move towards Hawal area in a procession, police swung into action and stopped them to avoid any fresh clash with the people of the other sect.

Not ready to disperse, the processonists insisted that they should be allowed to move towards Hawal.

Police used water to disperse them which proved ineffective.

Later, police resorted to baton charge and also fired teargas shells to disperse the processionists who turned violent and started pelting stones on police.

A UNI correspondent who visited the area saw broken windowpanes and damaged vehicles in the area.

Heavy stone pelting continued at Gojwara and Nowhatta despite requests by senior police officials to people to maintain peace.

More than 25 people, including police personnel, were injured in stone pelting and police action, sources said.

This is for the first time since the eruption of militancy a clash took place between two sects of muslims on (Ashoora) tenth day of muharram.

UNI BAS SY MIR KP1200