Stir against anti-Islam film turns violent

Protesters rallying against an anti-Islam film made in the United States clashed with police and security forces in several parts of Kashmir on Tuesday and in the ensuing clashes at least nine policemen were injured in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town.

Reports said at least nine policemen were injured in clashes in the Khanpora and Cement Bridge areas of Baranulla. A senior police official said that policemen had been directed to show restraint and not to fire on protesters.

Reports said that hundreds of people raising pro-Islam and anti-US slogans took out a protest march from old city towards the local United Nations office here. “As soon as the march reached M A Road at the city centre, policemen who were deployed in strength resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters,” they said.

The protesters, eyewitnesses said, retaliated with stones triggering clashes which continued for sometime. “The protesters also tried to attack the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand which is in the vicinity,” they added.

However, Chand’s security guards didn’t retaliate. “When I heard the noise I came out to see what was happening. Some youth were pelting stones at my residence.

“I asked my deputy superintendent (security) to ensure that none of my guards retaliated even if the protesters break the door,” the deputy chief minister said.
A police spokesperson said protesters set ablaze a government vehicle parked outside a shopping mall near Chand’s residence.

Pitched battles between police and protesters were also reported from different parts of the city and other district headquarters with protesters shouting anti-US slogans and burning US and Israeli flags.

Police and security forces had erected barricades on different roads leading to Srinagar.
Different lanes and bylanes in the old city and Lal Chowk area had also been blocked by barricades and loops of concertina wires.

Reports of strike and protests have been received from north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora towns and south Kashmir’s Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Tral towns.