3 journalists among 5 injured in Kashmir

Two persons were injured in a clash between a stone-pelting mob and security forces in Kashmir valley, where curfew was on Friday extended to Pulwama and Shopian district headquarters as a precautionary measure, officials said.

The clash took place at Malaknag, 55 km from Srinagar, in Anantnag district when a group of people defied the curfew and allegedly pelted stones at the security forces, prompting them to fire warning shots, burst teargas shells and use batons to control the unruly mob, they said.

Two persons were injured in the clash. One of the injured identified as Zubair Ahmad Ganie was rushed to SMHS hospital with a fire-arm injury, they said.

Meanwhile, three journalists -- on their way to the state assembly complex for covering the proceedings -- were allegedly beaten up by police in Baghat chowk area of the city, sources said.

Mehrajuddin, Umar Mehraj -- both associated with AP Television Network, and Mufti Islah of CNN-IBN were allegedly thrashed by the police personnel, who allegedly refused to honour their curfew passes.

Two of them had to be admitted to a hospital, they said.

Barring these incidents, the situation across the curfew-bound valley remained by and large peaceful.

The curfew, which was already in force in Srinagar, was extended and re-imposed in almost all major towns, excluding Shopian and Pulwama districts, on Thursday as a precautionary measure ahead of the Ayodhya dispute verdict, police said.

Kashmir valley has been in grip of violent protests since June 11 when a 17-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a tear smoke shell during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in the interior city. The unrest has so far claimed 104 lives.