Srinagar, September 8
Over 100 persons, including over 48 cops and CRPF personnel, were injured in a series of clashes between crowds of protesters and security personnel across the valley, especially in and around Srinagar.
A CRPF official said a violent mob blocked a police bus carrying personnel of 174 battalion of the CRPF near Bagi Mehtab in the evening and they were fired upon apparently by some militant hiding in the crowd. He said the CRPF opened fire to quell the stone-pelting protesters, which have left at least three persons injured.
The police and the CRPF earlier fired at a crowd in Nowhatta. Four persons were injured in the firing and one of them is lying in a serious condition in hospital.
A government spokesperson said 32 cops, 11 CRPF personnel and 11 civilians were injured in today's clashes. However, reports said more than 50 civilians have received some kinds of injuries.
Meanwhile, the bandh call given by the separatists
brought life to a halt in the valley as shops, private offices remained closed and private transport was off the road. Hurriyat-led separatists had given the bandh call yesterday in protest against the Election Commission’s meeting in New Delhi with political parties for holding elections in Jammu & Kashmir and alleged atrocities committed by troops on Kashmiris.
Schools and colleges were also closed and there was not much attendance in government offices. Stone pelting by protesters at some places in downtown was reported. A police spokesman said a couple of stone-pelting incidents at Safa Kadal, Nowhatta and Nawab Bazar occurred.
A violent mob attacked the vehicle of Dr S Jalal, former director, SKIMS, at Sekidafar in Safa Kadal and two civilians in the incident were injured when his PSO opened fire. The injured were rushed to Bone and Joint Hospital.
He said a group of people pelted stones on CRPF in Safa Kadal and four civilians were injured as they tried to quell protests. At Nowhatta, a group of 50 to 60 persons indulged in stone pelting but they were dispersed and a small group of stone-pelting people was also chased away at Nawab Bazar, he said.
