Srinagar, Apr 6: A youth was injured in clashes in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town on Friday soon after the Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani left the area. However, police denied that anyone was injured in the clashes.   
 Reports said soon after Geelani addressed a public rally and left the town hundreds of youth raising pro-freedom slogans took to streets and staged demonstrations. Police and paramilitary CRPF men deployed in the area resorted to baton charge and teargas shelling to disperse the protesters who retaliated with stones triggering clashes which continued till late in the evening.
 Reports said that a youth Umar Ahmad Bhat was injured in the police action. However,  Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Muhammad Haseeb Mughal told Greater Kashmir, “We have no knowledge about anyone sustaining injuries. He may have got injured in their own stone pelting.”
 Unconfirmed reports said that forces ransacked the houses in old town Baramulla during the clashes.
 Meanwhile, a handout released by Police media cell alleged that the youth pelted stones on Police Station Baramulla after Geelani addressed the rally.  “Today after Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressed a gathering at Main Chowk Baramulla a constituent of the gathering indulged in stone pelting on Police Station, Baramulla. However, Police exercised maximum restraint and dispersed them,” the handout said.
 “Such incidents of violence after the address of Syed Ali Shah Geelani have occurred at many places last year too,” it added.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST