Clashes erupted between youth and forces in the Commercial Hub Lal Chowk area of Srinagar after police detained a ‘mentally-challenged’ person who had entered in the local hotel here.A man was arrested after he entered in the hotel Taj here and allegedly ransacked the windowpanes of the hotel. Following the arrest of the ‘mentally-challenged’ person, clashes erupted between the youth and the forces there.Witnesses according to the KNS correspondent said that the forces used tear smoke shells and pepper gas shells to disperse the agitating youth who were throwing stones on them.They added that scores of tear gas canisters were also lobbed inside the press enclave during the clashes.Meanwhile, the local sources informed KNS that some gunshots were also heard prior to the arrest of the man.Following the clashes, the Lal Chowk wore a deserted look as almost all the shops and other business establishments were closed in the area while the vehicular movement was also thin on the roads.Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) East (Srinagar city), Sheikh Faisal Qayoom said that some local had entered hotel Taj today and was arrested. “No firing occurred during the incident and we are currently ascertaining the facts,” he added. (KNS)