By Bilal Furqani, AIP
Srinagar: Despite a strict security in Kashmir, scores of people including women and children tried to take a protest march to Pather Masjid today afternoon on the call given by Hurriyat (G).
Dozens of women demonstrators, led by the Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chief Asiya Andrabi, defied the strict security lockdown in the Srinagar and staged a noisy anti-India rally.
The women later dispersed after police tried to block the rally.
Dukhtaran-e-Millat’s attempted march. [AIP Photo]
Later, the marchers led by marched towards Pather Masjid from Moghal Mohalla, Chattabal area but were stopped by troopers resulting in violent clashes between protesters and troopers. Police lobbed tear gas canisters and live ammunition in air to disperse the marchers, dozens of young men present at the scene hurled stones at the police, sparking a clash that left five protesters and three policemen injured.
Strict curfew and restrictions have been enforced in the city to thwart any attempt to take the protest march to historical Pather Masjid near Zaina Kadal in old city of summer capital Srinagar.
Government had deployed women police in many areas to deal with women protesters.
Female members of J&K police in full gear. [AIP Photo]
Severe clashes erupted in several areas of Srinagar city last night when troopers were returning to their base camps after a daylong curfew. People tried to march towards Pather Masjid but were stopped by police triggering violent clashes which continued till late in the night.
Earlier, a top police officer told Agence India Press that, we have deployed 300-400 women security personnel to prevent the protest march by women to maintain law and order.