Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 18: At least 20 people were injured as protesters clashed with police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at several places across Kashmir soon after Friday prayers today.
The protesters raised slogans against Israel and at some places clashed with police that was deployed to thwart the demonstrations.
Protesters clashed with police and CRPF personnel outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s Old City soon after the Friday congregation culminated.
Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for protests after Friday prayers.
Geelani appealed to observe the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan (Jummah-tul-Vidah) as ‘Youm-ul-Qudus’, saying until Israel will not stop killing innocent children and women in Gaza, protests will continue to show sympathies with Palestinian brethren.
Hundreds of people took out a procession, shouting anti-Israel and pro-Palestine slogans in old city. The demonstrators which were led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq marched outside the Masjid in Nowhatta and attempted to proceed to the main market.
Mirwaiz condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and appealed UN and OIC to come forward to the rescue of Palestinian people.
“Like apartheid South Africa, the world must show solidarity with Palestinians and impose sanctions and economic boycott on Israel so that it is forced to concede to a just and lasting solution with Palestinians. Palestine must be given its freedom,” Mirwaiz said.
A rally of motorcyclists was taken out in the civil lines of the city which marched through Lal Chowk. The motorcyclists were raising also anti-Israel slogans.
The huge police deployment tried to scuttle their march which angered the protestors and triggered stone pelting on police and CRPF. Police fired several tear smoke canisters at the protesters and at least 8 people were injured in the clashes.
Clashes also erupted in Sopore town in Baramulla district after during demonstrations against Israel after Friday prayers. At least three people, including a woman, were injured as anti-Israel protesters clashed with security forces in Sopore town. A youth Nisar Ahmad was injured due to tear gas shelling by police.
Reports said protests also erupted in Haigam area of the town in which a woman Haseeena Begum was hurt in her head. In Kunzar people raised peaceful anti-Israel protests.
The protests were also reported from Palhalan and police fired tear-smoke on stone throwing protesters. At least six protesters were injured in clashes.
In Central Kashmir a massive ant-Israel demonstration was held in Kangan and Ganderbal towns. Thousands of locals after the Friday prayer participated in the protest, reports said.
Protests also took place in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Anantnag districts in South Kashmir.
In Pulwama town, police fired teargas shells after people took out a protest rally against Israel.
Reports said youth pelted stones at police post in Pulwama town which resulted in clashes. A spontaneous shutdown was observed after the protests and security forces were deployed to thwart more protests.
In Anantnag, clashes took place between protestors and police in which two youth have been critically injured due to police shelling.
The injured youth have been identified as Amir Ahmad and Sajad Ahamd, one of them has been rushed to SKIMS.
In Sangrama, a youth Riyaz Ahmad was hurt when worshipers clashed with forces after the congregation.
Hundreds of students, including women, of the Kashmir University protested against Israeli after Friday prayers. They raised anti-Israel and anti-America slogans and appealed world community to act against Israel so that the innocent killings are stopped.
Later, university authorities and police dispersed the protesting students but they re-assembled after some time at different corners of the campus and started sloganeering in support of Gaza. Reports said the university authorities caught hold of some protesting students and took away their identity cards
A police spokesman said here that today stray incidents of stone pelting were reported in the afternoon from Qaimoh, Wanpoh in Kulgam, Naid Khai, Sopore, Papchan, Bandipora and Nowhatta in Srinagar.
“One person Amir Ahmad was injured at Wanpoh, he has been shifted to Srinagar Hospital where his condition is being reported to be stable, besides a lady Hasina was injured in Sopore she was shifted to the hospital”, the spokesman said.
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