One killed, 40 injured in fresh Kashmir violence

Srinagar, Oct 10 (UNI) One person was killed and 40 others were wounded when security forces opened fire, burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse ''pro-freedom'' activists in the Kashmir valley where business and other activities came to a halt since this afternoon.

Immediately after Friday prayers were over in the historic Jamia masjid, where chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq addressed the congregation, and other places of worship in the Sher-e-Khas and downtown were over, people took to the streets at different places.

Rsising ''pro-freeom slogans'', the demonstrators at Nowhatta started marching towards the main city when CRPF and police stopped them.

Agitated by this, the processionists pelted stones and security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to repeated lathicharge to disperse them.

Security forces later fired several rounds, including rubber bullets, causing injuries to half a dozen people.

The seriously injured were admitted to hospital where one Babloo Sheikh died, hospital officials said.

Reports of clash between agitators and security forces were also received from Habba Kadal and Chinkral Mohalla and downtown Baramulla.

Sources said about 40 people, including some security personnel, were injured in these clashes.

People took to the streets at x x x here picking up from DR 56 ''Agitation-Kashmir-teargasing''.

UNI BAS RJ AS1839