Srinagar: Massive clashes between pro-freedom protesters and government forces erupted in Old City on Friday afternoon during which more than a dozen youths were detained by police.
Sources said that scores of youths assembled outside Jama Masjid today after Friday prayers and staged anti-India and pro-freedom protests. The protesters chanted slogans in favour of Islam, freedom and against India.
The protesters hurled rocks and bricks on police and paramilitary troopers deployed in Nowhatta area of Old City ensuing clashes between the two sides. Witnesses said that police lobbed dozens of teargas shells to disperse the protesters but the latter offered stiff resistance and continued pelting.
Sources said the clashes later spread to adjoining areas of Nowhatta during which police detained more than a dozen youths including a non-local who has been identified as Vikram Singh by police.
Confirming the development, the SP North City Shafkat Hussain told GNS that they arrested more than a dozen youths during stone-pelting and said the police would act all those including against the non-local.
The clashes in the Old City were going on till late in the evening.
