Clashes in Kashmir during strike against CBI's Shopian report

The clashes erupted at nearly a dozen places in Srinagar, two places in North Kashmir's Baramulla and South Kashmir Pulwama town when police stopped hundreds of people from taking out processions.

The strike was called by NGO Majlis-e-Mashawarat, Shopian, against the CBI, which filed its final report in the case before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court yesterday.

Ruling out rape and murder of 17-year-old Asiya and her 22-year-old sister-in-law Neelofar, the CBI attributed their death to drowning on May 30. The agency also filed a chargesheet against 13 persons including doctors and lawyers for allegedly fabricating evidence.

Chanting anti-CBI slogans, groups of youth took to the streets at a dozen places in Srinagar including Bohrikadal, Eidgah, Batmaloo, Natipora, Kawdara, Jamia Masjid, Maisuma, Qammerwari and Barzalla and pelted stones at security forces deployed in strength to maintain law and order.

Police used batons and teargas to control the crowd, the sources said, adding four persons were injured in the clashes.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir Farooq Ahmed said the situation was under control. "Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from  some areas but the situation was well under control".

Shops were closed but transport was plying in some areas.

At Bohrikadal in old city, fire broke out in a house during the clash and efforts are on to douse the flames.

Locals alleged that the fire was caused by indiscriminate teargas shelling by police. However, police denied the charge.

A spokesman of the fire department said efforts were on to control the fire. "It is premature to say what caused the fire".

The sources said eight persons, including two policemen, were injured as intense clashes were going on at Cement Bridge in Baramulla and Hathi Shah in Sopore town, 55 kms from here.

Groups of youth also clashed with police in Pulwama district town, 32 kms from here, but there was no report of any casualty, the sources said.

The sources said hundreds of people shouting slogans against CBI took out a march in Shopian town, 52 kms from here.

However, the protestors dispersed peacefully after visiting the house of the deceased women and assured full support to the family.