Srinagar: Fresh protests erupted in Srinagar and some other parts of Kashmir on Saturday after the authorities eased restrictions on the movement of people in the Valley. At places, irate crowds of mainly youth clashed with the security forces, leaving a large number of people injured.
Security forces fired teargas canisters and reportedly pellet shotguns to disperse the stone-pelting mobs at a few places.
However, J&K government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said only eight persons were injured in six to seven such incidents and that in none of these did more than 30-40 stone-pelters take part. He claimed, “These incidents didn’t happen in the areas where relaxation was given.”
He said that no untoward incident was reported from the areas where restrictions were eased. The process of easing curbs would continue on Sunday, he said. While Srinagar and its neighbourhood continued to be tense with security forces patrolling the streets, the civil lines area and peripheries of the summer capital witnessed increased movement of people and plying of private vehicles.
Skeletal public transport service, mainly cabs, was available for the first time in two weeks. Some shops, mainly selling groceries, and pharmacies in the civil lines areas and its neighbourhood opened on Saturday morning. Some fuel stations were serving customers.Mr Kansal said the relaxation was given in 35 police station areas across the Valley. This had resulted in people coming out besides private vehicle plying on roads.
