JOIN USTwenty-six people, including senior superintendent of police Ramesh Jhalla and three other police offers, were injured in the clashes.
The rest of Kashmir celebrated Id-ul-Adha peacefully with traditional fervour and gaiety.
Though tight security arrangements were made in the Valley in view of Id, some people, after Id prayers, took to the streets to hold pro-separatist demonstrations in Sopore, north Kashmir. They tried to form a procession but were stopped by the police and CRPF personnel.
The demonstrators began to pelt them with stones, forcing the police to respond with smoke shells, cane charges and firing into the air. The clashes continued for over an hour during which reinforcements of police and security forces rushed to the affected ares to get the situation under control. Five people were injured. Sopore is the stronghold of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the hard line faction of the Hurriyat Conference, who was placed under house arrest by police at his residence in Srinagar.
Force had to be used by the men in uniform at the demonstrations held at Janglaat Mandi in Anantnag, south Kashmir as well. The angry protestors hurled stones at the police and CRPF. Normal life was affected due to the clashes in these areas. SHO Anantnag Liyaqat Khan blamed the protestors for violence.