At least three persons were injured as police fired in air and used teargas shells to disperse stone pelters who took to streets today after Friday prayers in Sopore township of Baramulla district today.
One of the injured Nasir Hussain Batoo, an employee of a college in Sopore, was hit by a bullet in the leg and was brought here for specialised treatment, official sources said.
The trouble started in the north Kashmir town, 55 km from here, shortly after chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressed a public meeting.
A group of slogan-shouting youths indulged in stone pelting after it was stopped from taking out a march by police. Police fired rubber bullets, teargas shells and used batons to disperse the mob. As these steps proved ineffective, police fired several rounds of warning shots to restore law and order.
The two other injured identified as Mohammad Ashraf and Mohammad Ibrahim were hit by stones and discharged after first aid, the sources said.
A police spokesman said they are investigating how Batoo, a resident of Maharajpora locality of Sopore, got injured. "We have received information that he was hit by a bullet in the leg and is undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital."
Police also used batons to chase away groups of youths who indulged in stone pelting at Gojwara and Batmaloo in Srinagar shortly after Friday prayers, the sources said.
Addressing the youths in Sopore, Geelani asked them to refrain from stone-pelting during demonstrations.
Stone pelting has become a routine for the last two years in the Valley and has so far claimed the lives of over 60 people, including an 11-day-old baby.
Recently, police launched a major crackdown against the stone-pelters and took into custody over 400 people. Three senior separatist leaders including president of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah and over two dozen youths were later booked under Public Safety Act.
Despite the snub by the electorate to the separatists' call for boycott of the last Assembly and Parliamentary elections, Geelani again appealed the people to stay away from the upcoming civic bodies elections and the activities of mainstream parties.
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