Protests in Srinagar after Friday prayers, Pak flags waved

Scores of youth, some of them carrying Pakistani flags, today took out a protest rally and pelted stones at security forces after Friday prayers in Nowhatta area here against the house arrest Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

The protests erupted soon after the culmination of the congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid, against the arrest of the moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman.As the rally reached Nowhatta chowk, police did not allow it to proceed after which the youth started throwing stones at the security forces.

Pitched battles were fought between the security forces and the protesters, with the police resorting to aerial firing and tear-gas shelling to quell the protests.Several youth were seen carrying Pakistani flags in the rally.

Mirwaiz was put under house arrest on Wednesday, a day before his proposed rally to Eidgah to commemorate the death anniversary of his father Molvi Mohammad Farooq and senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone