Srinagar, August 26: Violent clashes broke out in Nowhatta soon after the Friday prayers were over at the historic Jamia Masjid.
Eyewitnesses said raising pro-freedom slogans, hundreds of youth attempted to take out a peaceful procession. However the police and CRPF, deployed in strength, swung into action to disperse the crowd. Witnesses said, the police cane-charged the protesters and fired numerous tear smoke canisters to disperse them.
As a result of the use of force, eyewitnesses said, the protesters got enraged and they divided themselves into different batches and started hurling stones on the cops.
The intense pitched battle continued till late afternoon.
 “The cops caught hold of a boy and thrashed him to pulp,” eyewitnesses said.
 On the other hand some photojournalists said they were again harassed by the police today.
 Nishwan Rasool, a young journalist said as he and his colleagues were covering the protests, the police and CRPF men deployed there hurled stones and marbles on them.
 “As soon we attempted to go on the police side to cover the scene, the police and CRPF personnel used sling shots and hurled stones to scare us away,” Nishwan said. “One of the brick hit me on my head. One marble hit my camera lens. They were only targeting us even as we were showing cameras to them. The cops also hurled abuses at us”.
 Nishwan said, out of scare, he along with other photographers left the place. “So did other photojournalists. It was so scary a situation”.
 Last Friday, the police beat two photojournalists despite getting instructions from their higher-up not to do so. The police action has attracted condemnation from journalist unions globally and at national level. On Thursday, journalists observed one hour dharna at Press Colony here to protest police harassment.
 However, SSP Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Bukhari rubbished claims that any photojournalist was harassed by the cops.
 “Nobody was touched. They covered the incident and left,” Bukhari said. “I was personally monitoring the situation”.
 Police spokesman said Juma-ul-Vida prayers were held across Kashmir Valley today which concluded peacefully. “However some miscreants after Friday prayers attempted to disrupt peace in Nowhatta area, by resorting to stone pelting on police and security forces deployments. Police however exercised restraint while dealing with the situation. None was injured till this report was filed,” spokesman said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST