Protests over anti-Islam film rock Valley

Amid complete shutdown and undeclared curfew in some parts of Srinagar, the Kashmir Valley on Friday witnessed massive protests against an anti-Islam film made in the US.

Reports said angry youth fought pitched battles with police and paramilitary forces at several places across the Valley as business establishments, educational institutions and offices remained closed in protest against the blasphemous film.

Holding placards reading “Anti-Islam film, intrigue against world peace”, “Our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is our honour,” protesters in various parts of the city burnt US and Israeli flags. With two strikes in last one week, Kashmir has become a part of the growing worldwide Muslim protest against the anti-Islam film. In the Babademb area of Old City, police fired tear gas canisters at a group of women who were marching under the banner of the radical Islamic women’s group Dukhtaran-e-Millat, chanting “Down with the US.”
However, no one was hurt.

Fearing fresh violence, the state government announced closure of all government and private educational institutions, including colleges across the Valley on Friday.

In the volatile Maisuma area near city centre Lal Chowk, scores of youth took out a protest demonstration. However, police deployed in strength stopped them from moving towards Lal Chowk. They fired teargas shells and baton-charged the youth. But the angry youth retaliated with stones and fought pitched battles with police. No one was injured, reports added.

Several religious and separatist groups in the Kashmir Valley had supported the Pakistani call to observe Friday as a “day of love for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).” Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for peaceful protests after Friday congregation prayers against the acts of blasphemy.

From early morning on Friday, police imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people in the Old City and Anantnag town in south Kashmir. A police spokesperson said restrictions under Section 144 CrPC, which bans assembly of four or more people, were in force in five police station areas in the Old Srinagar City and some parts of Anantnag town.