Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 15: A police officer was injured during stone-throwing clashes between protesters and security forces in Old City area here after Friday prayers.
Dozens of masked youth, waving flags of Islamic State, assembled at Nowhatta
outside historic Jama Masjid post-Friday congregational prayers and started sloganeering.
The youths resorted to heavy stone-pelting on security forces deployed additionally in the area, triggering violent stand-off between the two sides. The police fired scores of teargas shells, pepper grenades and also used pellet gunfire against the protesters.
However, the masked protesters continued stone-pelting on forces, prompting shopkeepers to down their shutters, said the witnesses. The clashes later spread to nearby Gojwara and Rajouri Kadal neighbourhoods. Witnesses said several alleged stone-throwers were detained by police while chasing protesters.
During the clashes, a police officer identified as Suhail Ahmad was injured after a stone hit his head. He was immediately hospitalized and received two stitches, said an official, adding that his condition is stable. Several protesters were also injured due to pellet gunfire during the ensuing clashes.
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