Seven injured in fresh Kashmir clashes

Srinagar, July 2 (ANI): At least seven persons, including a policeman were injured during fresh clashes across the Kashmir Valley on Thursday.

The police vehicle was set ablaze by a mob in Pulwama town. Two protesters -- Nazir Ahmad Bhat and Pervaiz Ahmad -- were critically injured when they were hit by the vehicle as the policeman tried to drive away. The protesters set the vehicle ablaze.

The driver, Mohammad Amin, was severely thrashed by the mob before he was rescued and admitted to hospital.

In Baramulla, protests continued for the fourth consecutive day against policemen being involved in the killing of four persons. Protests also took place in Shopian over the rape and murder of two women on May 30.

Police had to fire rubber bullets, burst teargas shells and used batons to disperse hundreds of demonstrators, who violated curfew in the old town of Baramulla.

Violent clashes also took place between police and groups of youth in nearby Sopore town, where authorities relaxed curfew for three hours in the morning, the sources said.

The government has already ordered a magisterial probe into the Baramulla incident and pulled out the CRPF yesterday. Police reinforcements have taken position in the town to maintain law and order, sources said, adding, at least 12 companies of police reached the town from Jammu last evening.

Demonstrations also took place in Srinagar. Several demonstrators shouted pro-freedom slogans near the Jamia Masjid under the banner of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference.

Meanwhile, a general strike called by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference paralysed normal life across the Kashmir Valley for the third consecutive day Thursday. (ANI)