Over 250 injured in clashes, pro-Aazadi rallies
There was upsurge in pro-freedom rallies and ding dong incidents of stone pelting today when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh led all party delegation reached Kashmir today morning on a two day visit with an aim to restore peace in the region.
While the delegation met several groups of mainstream leaders both from the ruling parties and Opposition, however, the Hurriyat leaders, who are considered to be the main players, continued to remain in the jails and several are under house detention.
Senior Hurriyat leader Masroor Ansari was arrested when he tried to march towards airport road to hold a protest
The delegation which is on a two day visit to Kashmir failed to break the ice on the first day as protests continued across Kashmir.
According to reports, over 250 people injured in the clashes in several parts of Kashmir,
In Shopian, the mini secretariat was set ablaze when protests erupted in the area.
Health officials in Shopian and Anantnag confirmed that nearly 100 people with pellet and shell injuries were admitted to hospitals.
Clashes also broke out at Aripanthan area of Budgam district, where two people suffered pellets injuries in firing by security forces.
Protesters from various villages in Tral marched to the town’s Eidgah – a large ground where annual Eid prayers are offered — prompting security forces to fire several tear smokes shells.
They later threw stones at Tral MLA Mushtaq Ahmad Shah’s house.
Contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed across Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir, although curfew was not imposed.