65 injured in Srinagar clashes, police use tear gas shells

Srinagar, Jun 24: About 65 persons were wounded when police here fired tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators protesting the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and killing of a youth in firing last night.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) members joined by common people today took out a procession to lodge their protest against SASB and killing of a youth in police firing.

After a calm night, people at different places in the civil lines, downtown and other parts of the city took to the streets this morning after the news spread that one of the youth injured in police firing last evening, died in the hospital late last night.

Shouting slogans against SASB, mainstream political parties and security forces, the demonstrators assembled at Maisuma, some miles away from the headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

The JKLF chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik has threatened to start fast unto death agitation, if the land transfer order was not cancelled.

As the demonstrators were marching towards the main Budshah Chowk, police swung into action and resorted to lathicharge.

However, when there was no affect, police fired tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators who were pelting stones on passing vehicles and security force personnel deployed there.

Later, the demonstrators re-grouped at Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, and again clashed with police. They also clashed with police at Gaw Kadal, Budshah Chowk, Koker Bazar and Madina chowk.

Shops and business establishments in the entire civil lines remained closed since morning.

Traffic on the main Budshah Chowk was suspended because of the heavy stone pelting from Maisuma side. Later, traffic was diverted through other routes, leading to frequent traffic jams.

UNI