Srinagar: Violent protests erupted in City parts here today after Friday prayers against the killing of mother-son duo in Rajouri by Village Defence Committee (VDC) gunman, resulting in injuries to a senior police officer who has been airlifted to Delhi for specialized treatment.
Eyewitnesses told Srinagar-based news agency GNS that scores of JKLF activists led its chairman Yasin Malik took out protest demonstration against the Rajouri incident and staged massive protests at Maisuma. The JKLF chief while calling the VDC as terrorist force sponsored and backed by Indian government demanded its immediate disbanding.
Amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters tried to march towards Lal Chowk but a posse of police stopped them at Budshah Chowk and detained Malik along with other JKLF leaders and supporters. The detainees were whisked away to Kothi Bagh police station.
The police action infuriated the JKLF supporters and they pelted stones on government forces. The police fired dozens of teargas shells towards the protesters leading to clashes. During the clashes, a stone pelted by an unknown protester hit the eye of the SDPO Kothi Bagh, Fahad Tak. The top cop was received critical injuries and was shifted to SMHS hospital from where he was airlifted to Delhis AIIMS.
Meanwhile, clashes also erupted in Nowhatta, Gojwara, Saraf Kadal and Rajouri Kadal areas of the city against the Rajouri killings. The protesters hurled rocks, raised slogans and also clashed with government forces. The forces in return resorted to heavy teargas shelling. The clashes continued for several hours during which normal life remained disrupted.
Meanwhile, a police official told GNS that some unidentified persons lobbed a grenade towards 44 BN CRPF bunker at Saraf Kadal when clashes were underway between forces and protesters. He said the grenade however didnt explode and was later defused.
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