8 injured in clash in Kashmir, curfew clamped in some areas

Eight persons were today injured when stone-pelting protestors clashed with security forces in Bandipora district town of Kashmir Valley where curfew has been imposed in four districts to foil a march planned by the separatists to the United Nations office in Srinagar.

Defying curfew restrictions, a group of protestors took to the roads this morning in Bandipora district town, 50km from Srinagar, officials said.

Police and other security forces used batons to chase the protestors away but the youth starting pelting stones at them.

Security forces lobbed tear smoke shells and fired Pump Action Guns to bring the situation under control, they said, adding five civilians and three policemen were injured in the clashes.

Authorities had this morning clamped curfew in Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts besides Awantipora town, in view of the march called by moderate faction of Hurrriyat to the office of the UN Military Observers' Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). The march is supported by the hardline faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

A large number of security force personnel have been deployed across the city and other sensitive areas to prevent the separatists from taking out any rally.

Officials said several separatist leaders have been put under house arrest while over a dozen activists of Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat were taken into preventive custody last night.

They also said that a large number of protestors had blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway in Palhalan area of Baramulla district late last night.

Police fired tear smoke shells and warning shots to disperse the protestors, they said.

Meanwhile, normal life remained disrupted in the Valley today in view of the strike call given by both factions of Hurriyat to protest the landing of Army in Kashmir on this day in 1947, a day after then Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession with the Union of India.

Hurriyat has asked the people to observe the day as "black day".

Shops, business establishments and private offices remained closed on account of the strike.

Kashmir Valley has been in a grip of protests, strikes and curfew since June when a 17-year-old boy was killed by a tear smoke shell allegedly fired by police at Rajouri Kadal area of the city.