Islamabad, July 30: At least 60 persons were injured in violent clashes between protesters and force personnel in different areas of south Kashmir, while protesters defied curfew in Tral area, police and reports said on Friday.
PULWAMA
Witnesses told Greater Kashmir that police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force troopers opened fire and resorted to intense tear gas shelling on the protesters at Pulwama. However, protesters offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones triggering clashes that continued till late in the evening. In the police action scores of people sustained injuries.
TRAL
Authorities imposed curfew in Tral Township to prevent the people from staging demonstrations after the Friday prayers. However, people from the adjoining villages took out massive pro-freedom processions. One such procession which had started from Khankah in Haizpana village was intercepted by police and paramilitary CRPF men near the Tral township. They beat up the protesters with batons and fired numerous tear smoke shells to disperse them. In the police action at least 28 persons were wounded.
Three of the critically injured persons, Bilal Ahmad Reeshi son of  Ghulam Muhammad Reeshi of Tral Payeen, Muhammad Younus Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Tral Bala and Naseer Ahmad of Kuchmula, Tral were referred to Srinagar.
As the word about police using force to quell the demonstrators spread thousands of people, including men, women and children gathered in the compound of the Khankah in Haizpana village and staged massive anti-police demonstrations.
Police again resorted to tear gas shelling and fired several rounds in the air to disperse the protesters. Several persons including three women sustained injuries in the police action.
Later in the evening people in Tral town defied curfew and clashed with police and paramilitary CRPF men . In the clashes that were on till late in the evening at least 42 persons, according to locals , had sustained injuries.
KAKAPORA
Hundreds of people took to the streets at Kakpora Naman, Laribal and other villages and staged massive pro-freedom protests. Hundreds of women also participated in the protests.
The protesters from Naman were intercepted by the police and CRPF men and were beaten up mercilessly, witnesses said.
“Police fired several rounds in air then fired hundreds of tear gas canisters directly into the procession injuring about 20 persons including five women,” witnesses added.
The residential house of one Ghulam Muhammad Dar was completely gutted after the tear gas shell landed inside it. Police also arrested dozens of youth.
SHOPIAN
Massive pro-freedom protests rocked Shopian town. People in large numbers gathered outside the Jamia Majid after the Friday prayers and marched through the streets amid pro-freedom slogans. The protesters later dispersed off peacefully. However, later in the day some youth attacked the deputy commissioner’s office by pelting stones.
KULGAM
Despite severe restrictions massive protests and clashes rocked Kulgam and Qaimoh areas. Several people were injured in the stone pelting and tear gas shelling.
ISLAMABAD
Authorities imposed undeclared curfew in Islamabad town. Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed in the town to prevent people from coming out of their homes.
 Locals said that they were not allowed  to offer Friday prayers in the centrally located Masjids. Later, in the evening hundreds of people took to the streets and staged massive protests at Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, Kadipra, Sarnal, Janglat Mandi, Sheerpora , Reeshi Bazar , Achabal Adda and Lal Chowk.
Police fired several tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
Clashes between police and protesters also broke out at Laizbal, Gulshanabad and Naibasti areas. Paramilitary CRPF and SOG men also allegedly barged into several houses in Bakhshiabad, Kadipora and Malakhnag smashed the window panes of the houses and beat up the inmates including women and children.
Massive pro-freedom demonstrations also rocked the Bijbehara town. People of the town and the adjoining villages offered joint congregational prayers and then thousands marched on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
Hundreds of people including women and children took to the roads and staged pro-freedom demonstrations at Pampore.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST