Clashes between protesters and government forces erupted at several places on Friday as Kashmir observed a shutdown against awarding death sentence verdict to a Kulgam man by a West Bengal court last month.According to GNS correspondent, in view of the Friday, authorities since early morning had deployed additional contingents of government forces in sensitive areas of Srinagar including in Old City. However, there was no restriction on the movement of people. At some places, forces had erected concertina wires and mobile bunkers.With joint resistance leadership calling for post-Friday protests against death sentence awarding to Muzzafar Ahmad Rathore of Kulgam, the authorities had deployed additional forces men in Civil Lines areas including in Maisuma, Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk and adjoining areas. The forces men had also laid barricades since early morning. Compared to other days, there was less flow of private and public transport in city parts while majority of shops, petrol pumps, commercial units were closed.Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house detention in order to prevent him from leading a rally at Jamia Masjid here. However scores of Hurriyat activists after offering Friday prayers held a protest outside Jama Masjid.
The youths also staged protest inside Jama Masjid compound and pelted stones and bricks on forces, ensuing clashes between the two sides that continued intermittently for several hours.During the clashes, police fired dozens of teargas shells towards the protesters. The protesters responded by continuing stone-pelting while a petrol bomb was hurled on CRPF. Two photojournalists including Sheikh Irfan of PTI news agency were injured in the clashes. Irfan was hospitalized from where he was discharged later after receiving first aid treatment. The clashes later spread to other areas of the downtown city.A protest was also held by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) activists here. Massive clashes also erupted at HMT Zainkote and Soura areas of the city outkskirts, reports said. A complete shutdown was also observed in other parts of the Valley during which clashes erupted at Bandipora and Sopore.(GNS)