Srinagar: Clashes between groups of youth and government forces broke out in Old Srinagar city after Friday prayers, while the arrest of a salesman and massive teargas shelling sparked protest and shutdown from traders community.
Eyewitnesses said that government forces fired dozens of tear-smoke shells on a group of youth who attacked them with stones after taking out a protest march waving black and green flags.
As the prayers culminated, a group of youth, shouting pro-freedom slogans, tried to march towards Nowhatta Chowk but were stopped by government forces. The youth pelted stones on the forces who also resorted to tear-smoke shelling. Some of the youth were also carrying the flags of ISIS and Pakistan.
Reports said that many protesters were injured in these clashes. The stone-pelting clashes have become a routine at Nowhatta after Friday prayers since the last few months. Many times, some of the youth hoist flags of ISIS, Pakistan and militant organizations, said a police official.
The traders alleged that police resorted to massive tear gas shelling while some shells went off inside shops and Masjid Sharif. They said that police also arrested a Salesman Lateef Ahmed. The traders downed their shutters and staged a protest. The clashes and subsequent shutdown by the traders disrupted normal life in Nowhata, Gojwara and adjacent areas.
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