Police and security forces used lathi-charge and fired tear smoke shells and pallet guns to disperse the mob. Stone throwers pelted rocks and clashes continued for sometime before the situation was brought under control.
Violence marked Eid-ul-Fitr on Wednesday when ubiquitous army of protesters raised Pakistani flags and pelted stones on the security forces after the Eid prayers in different parts of Kashmir valley. Twenty-one police and security force personnel including additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Anantnag were injured in the mob violence.
Massive protests rocked Eidgah after the prayers with hundreds of youth trying to lead an anti-India march. Shouting pro freedom slogans, the protestors, some of them masked, raised Pakistani flags and clashed with the security forces.
Police and security forces used lathi-charge and fired tear smoke shells and pallet guns to disperse the mob. Stone throwers pelted rocks and clashes continued for sometime before the situation was brought under control.
Violent protests rocked Hyderpora, the area where Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani is residing, after scores of youths pelted stones on the security forces. Shouting pro-freedom slogans, the youths were demanding the release of Geelani from house arrest.
An ASP was injured when stone throwers attacked the police party in Anantnag after the Eid prayers. Massive clashes erupted in the south Kashmir after youths shouted pro-freedom slogans and pelted stones on the security forces. The protests came just days after 34 percent turnout was recorded in the Anantnag assembly by polls.
"Miscreants indulged in stone pelting at some places, including Main Chowk and Batapora Sopore, Hyderpora, Iddgah Srinagar and Ashaji Pora Anantnag. Police and Security forces exercised maximum restraint. Twenty one Police and security force personnel including two police officers and four others were injured. Situation is normal throughout Kashmir", said a police spokesman.
Massive security arrangements were made in the valley to quell the protests. Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani had asked people to lodge peaceful protests after Eid prayers across the valley.
Police had placed entire separatist leadership under house arrest to maintain order. However moderate Hurryat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is the chief cleric of Kashmir, addressed the Eid congregation at Eidgah over telephone.
"These restrictions will not in any way deter me or weaken my resolve towards pursuing the just cause of his people. I will always follow the path of my ancestors who made great sacrifices and bore tremendous hardships but never flinched from the right path", said Mirwaiz
Mirwaiz reiterated that there is no option for the state but to address the Kashmir issue in accordance to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
"The resistance leadership will continue to jointly resist anti Kashmir policies of the PDP-BJP government. India and Pakistan should initiate a meaningful and result oriented process to resolve this issue by involving the people of Kashmir whose destiny is at stake in this long standing political dispute," he said.
Meanwhile, police said Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated throughout the Kashmir valley with great fervour and enthusiasm. "Eid congregations were held in the nooks and corners of the Kashmir. Elaborate security arrangements were made and almost all the congregations dispersed off peacefully," a police spokesman said.
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