Srinagar: Hundreds of people held pro-freedom and anti-India protests at various places in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district here after Fridaycongregational prayers.
Witnesses said soon after Friday prayers, hundreds of people took to streets at Hajan and shouted pro-freedom slogans. The people were also shouting slogans against government forces.
“Hundreds of people led by Muslim league leader Showkat Ahmad Hakeem started March from Jamia Masjid,” one of the locals told GNS over phone.
However, soon after protests, youth clashed with government forces deployed in the area. The forces resorted to teargas shelling which created panic in the area.
The clashed continued for about half-an-hour, witnesses said, adding: most of the shops in the area were shut after clashes.
At Naidkhai – where a teenager, Farhat Ahmad Dar, was shot dead by police during clashes – protests and stone-hurling clashes took place after Friday prayers.
“Soon after Friday prayers, hundreds of people held pro-freedom and anti-India protests. Many of the protesters went to Shahgund – the native village of slan Farhat – to console his family,” Mehraj-ud-Din, a local, told GNS.
However, the clashes broke-out between government forces and youth which continued till evening till evening, witnesses said, adding no one was reported injured.
Protests also broke out at Shahgund Sadarkote and Vijpara areas of the district. The protesters were shouting pro-freedom slogans and demanded stern punishment against Farhat’s killers. (GNS)