30, including 3 CRPF personnel injured in Srinagar protests

Srinagar, Oct 6 (UNI) At least 30 persons, including three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, were injured when police fired in the air and burst teargas shells to disperse violent demonstrators in the city.

Hundreds of people took to streets at Nowhatta in the down town city immediately after Friday prayers were over in the historic Jamia Masjid raising secessionist slogans, the agitators demanded release of Mohammad Afzal Guru, the prime accused in the December 13,2001 Parliament fidayeen attack.

The processionists turned violent after police tried to stop them from proceeding towards the main chowk.

A flying stone hit a CRPF constable in the head, forcing police to fire teargas shells after repeated lathicharge had not affect on the demonstrators, who were pelting stones.

Two more CRPF personnel also received injuries after they were hit by stones. A youth got burn injuries after one of the teargas shells hit him.

As the situation turned worse, police fired in the air to disperse the agitators protesting against the Delhi courts order to hang Guru in Delhi's Tihar jail on October 20.

Traffic, on all routes in the down town area remained affected for several hours due to stone pelting and demonstration.

Police also fired teargass shells and resorted to baton charges to disperse the demonstrators at Maisuma near here this afternoon.

As the Friday prayers were over, the activists took to streets at Maisuma near here.

However, when the processionists tried to move towards the main Budshah chowk, police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse them.

Police later fired teargas shells after the demonstrators turned violent and pelted stones on security forces and passing vehicles.

UNI BAS VD BST1729