Clashes in Nowhatta after Friday prayers

Srinagar: Clashes between groups of youth and government forces broke out in old Srinagar city after Friday prayers, while the arrest of a ‘salesman’ and ‘massive teargas shelling’ sparked protests and a shutdown by the traders’ community.

Eyewitnesses, as per news agency CNS, said that the forces fired dozens of tear-smoke shells on a group of youth who attacked them with stones after taking out a protest march, waving black and green flags.

As the prayers culminated, a group of youth, shouting pro-freedom slogans, tried to march towards Nowhatta Chowk but were stopped by government forces.

The youth pelted stones on the forces who resorted to tear-smoke shelling. Some of the youths were also carrying the flags of ISIS and Pakistan.

Reports said that many protesters were injured in these clashes.

During the clashes, the traders said that police resorted to massive tear gas shelling and alleged that some shells landed inside their shops.

The shopkeepers downed their shutters to protest the detention of a salesman, identified as Lateef Ahmad, from a shop.

The clashes and subsequent shutdown by the traders disrupted normal life in Nowhatta, Gojwara and adjacent areas.