Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Clashes erupted between youth and security forces outside Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of Old City post-Friday congregation prayers against arrests.
Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were heavily deployed outside Jama Masjid to prevent youths from holding protests. The security forces had sealed entry and exit gates of Jama Masjid.
However, soon after Friday congregation was over, the masked youths emerged from lanes and bylanes of Nowhatta and started pelting stones on security forces. Initially police responded by firing dozens of teargas shells and stun grenades.
However as the stone-throwing turned intense the police fired aerial gunshots and rubber bullets in a bid to disperse protesters. The protesters were seeking release of youth accused of stone-pelting.
The clashes later spread to Gojwara and Rajouri Kadal neighbourhoods and continued till late evening. Due to clashes, the shopkeepers downed their shutters while the traffic was severely affected.
Meanwhile, the traders of Jamia Masjid market accused police of ransacking their shops during clashes and called for a shutdown tomorrow in city.
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