One killed, over 40 injured in Kashmir clashes

Srinagar, Jan 20 (UNI) One person was killed and more than 40 were injured, two of them critically, in clashes during Muharram processions in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

The injured included several police personnel.

A police spokesman said during Muharram procession a clash broke out between two groups of mourners at Sebdan Galwanpora in the central Kashmir district of Badgam last evening.

Twelve mourners were injured in the clash.The injured were admitted to different hospitals where a 60-year-old Ghulam Rasool died, he added.

The trouble at Hawal in the down town city erupted last night when people belonging to two sects of Muslims clashed during Muharram procession.

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

In the morning, a large number of people belonging to one sect took to the streets at Nowhatta and Gojwara to protest last night's incident. They tried to move towards Hawal area in a procession.

However, police swung into action and tried to stop them to avoid any fresh clash. But the processionists insisted that they be allowed to move towards Hawal.

Later, the police resorted to baton charge and also fired tear gas shells to disperse the processionists who turned violent and started pelting stones at them.

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 30 people, including police personnel, were injured in stone-pelting and police action. Three of the critically wounded were admitted to the SMHS Hospital, sources said.

This is for the first time since the militancy erupted in the state that the clash took place between the two sects of Muslims on (Ashoora), the tenth day of Muharram.

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