Clashes at some places, but Srinagar mostly peaceful

Barring clashes between youths and police at a few places in interior city for the third day
today, the situation remained peaceful in rest of Srinagar, official said.

Groups of youth chanting pro-freedom slogans indulged in stone-pelting with police and paramilitary forces at Kawdara, Rajouri Kadal and Nowhatta in the vicinity of Jamia Masjid, prompting police to fire teargas shells and use batons to disperse them, they said.

Three persons suffered minor injuries during the clashes this afternoon, officials said. Two protestors were arrested by police, raising the number of youth who were held in connection with stone-pelting at for the past three days to 18, sources said.

Violent protests erupted in most parts of Srinagar on Friday during a dawn-to-dusk strike called by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference against the alleged illegal occupation of thousands of hectares of land by troops in the state. Over 70 persons including 18 policemen were injured in the day-long clashes on Friday.

Maisuma in the heart of the city, which witnessed intense clashes for the past two days bringing business activities to a grinding halt, was calm throughout the day today.