Violent clashes rock Kashmir on New Year's Day

Violent clashes were witnessed at two places in Kashmir on Friday, with stone-pelting mobs attacking security personnel who retaliated by lobbing teargas shells, officials said.

In Pulwama district, about 30 kms from Srinagar in south Kashmir, protests erupted immediately after the Friday prayers as a group of youth took out a protest march and shouted slogans in favour of two militants killed in an encounter on Thursday.

The protesters pelted stones at security personnel who retaliated by firing dozens of tear-smoke shells to disperse them, officials said.

A shutdown was also observed in parts of the district on the second consecutive day to mourn the death of the two slain militants, the officials said.

Clashes were also witnessed in Nowhatta area in old Srinagar after Friday prayers, the officials said.

After the Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid, a group of youth, shouting pro-freedom slogans, tried to march towards Nowhatta Chowk but were stopped by security forces, they said.

The youth then pelted stones on the forces who resorted to tear-smoke shelling.

Some of the protesters displayed ISIS flags.

Officials said no one was injured in these clashes.

Over the last few months, stone-pelting and the resultant clashes have become a routine affair on Fridays at Nowhatta after the prayers. Many times, some of the youth display flags of ISIS, Pakistan and militant organizations.

Image: The mobs raised ISIS and Pakistani flags during their violent protests. Photograph: ANI