Srinagar, June 27
Protests in the valley seem to be taking deeper roots today as thousands of people from different parts of the capital took out many daylong processions. The main city square, Lal Chowk, hosted a massive rally that resonated with anti-government and pro-freedom slogans. The valley witnessed a complete strike.

A huge congregation, starting from downtown, gathered at the Lal Chowk after Friday namaz and spurred by religious and anti-government fervour, several youngsters went atop the high clock tower, where they hoisted several green Islamic flags of crescent and stars. Hordes of policemen watched at some distance as the surcharged crowd raised slogans against India and the state government.

On a day when participation of people grew on a big scale against the transfer of 800 canal land to Amarnath Shrine Board, the only breather the security establishment had was subsiding of violence. However, what should be a concern to mainstream leadership is that the agitation has moved onto a distinct anti-national platform from its previous anti-shrine board character. Roads and lanes in city reverberated with slogans like “Jeeve-Jeeve Pakistan (long live Pakistan)” and “hum kya chahte, azadi (we want freedom)”.

Beside a big rally, scores of people gathered in their localities and were addressed by small-time separatist leaders as most of their recognised faces, except JLKF leader Yasin Malik, remain under house-arrest. Some other important Hurriyat leaders led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are in Pakistan on a tour.

Over 50 persons, including 25 security personnel, were injured in the valley today, but the determined attack from protesters, which they faced in downtown till yesterday, subsided. Security personnel had apprehended violence after the Friday congregation in mosques, especially in old Srinagar. As many as three persons have been killed and over 300 persons, including over 100 security personnel, have been injured so far.

Burning tyres and blockades across the connecting roads were visible everywhere and protestors tried to ensure that even two-wheelers do not ply, except vehicles carrying mediapersons.

Large crowds gathered at the Lal Chowk from different places, like Soura, Batmalu, and downtown areas, after doing rounds of different localities, and dispersed after being addressed.

The rally started from Chanpora and gathered in numbers as it passed through Rambagh, Maisuma, Solina, Dal gate and other localities. There were also reports of rallies from cities like Ganderbal, Tral and Baramulla. Uri and Anantnag, where locals have largely refrained from pro-separatists protests for a long time, also saw rallies today.