Students clash with forces in Srinagar, SSP among 24 hurt

SRINAGAR: Twenty four people, including 12 security personnel, were injured today in clashes between stone-pelting students and law enforcing agencies in the heart of Srinagar, on the day colleges reopened in Kashmir after a five-day shutdown ordered by the government.
The upmarket Residency Road and adjoining M.A. Road here turned into a virtual battleground as students clashed with police shortly after colleges reopened.
A police spokesman said the security forces came under heavy stone-pelting which resulted in injuries to 12 personnel including three officers.
"The miscreants and the students pelted stones on Traffic Headquarters and attacked police vehicles with stones clubs and lathis. The police showed utmost restraint," he said.
"Some boys involved in stone-pelting were caught on the spot and detained by police," the spokesman said, adding the mob was dispersed and normalcy restored in the area.
Other officials said several students, passersby and a photojournalist were also hurt in the clashes.
Police had to fire dozens of tear smoke shells in an attempt to disperse the protesting students, the officials said.
The clashes began from S.P. College and soon spread to the adjoining areas, the officials said.
The protests spread to other parts of the commercial hub including Lal Chowk, Red Cross Road and Maisuma, they said.
The clashes led to closure of shops as people rushed to safer locations, the officials said.
Police said that several cops including SDPO Imran Farooq and SHO Kothibagh Rashid Ahmed were hurt during clashes. Reports said that Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Imtiyaz Ismail Parray was hit by a stone in his right elbow during the clashes.