Clashes rock Anantnag, Sopore, Hajin, Budgam, Pulwama areas post Friday Prayers

Clashes between forces and civilian protesters erupted on Friday at several places including Pulwama, Budgam and Hajin. In Budgam, the central part of Kashmir, reports said that clashes erupted between forces and protesters in Batapora, Kanihama area of Budgam district.
Witnesses said that 10 youth have been arrested from Batpora and 5 from Kanihama areas of the district during nocturnal raids. They said that hundreds of protesters assembled after Friday prayers and shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.They were raising slogans against the nocturnal police raids and arrests.
The protesters pelted stones on forces, who retaliated by firing teargas shells triggering clashes. In Pulwama, reports said that civilian protesters clashed with police and forces. The stone pelting clashes erupted soon after the congregational prayers culminated in the district. Reports also said that clashes erupted between forces and youth in Hajin town in northern part of Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday.Witnesses said that hundreds of youth assembled near Jamia Masjid Hajin after Friday prayers and shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
The youth took out a protest march from Jamia Masjid and hurled stones on already deployed forces near Middle school, witnesses said. They said that forces fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters. This led to clashes which were going on when reports last came in.

Anantnag shuts amid clashes
Clashes erupted in main town Anantnag after people clashed with the government forces on Friday morning. Local sources told Kashmir Post that the people were protesting against the high-handedness of the forces.
Government forces restored to heavy tear smoke shelling to disperse the protesting people. However, no one was injured during the clashes.
Pertinently, on Thursday afternoon forces had beaten shopkeepers in the main town Anantnag over parking issue. The Traders Federation also staged a protest against the high-handedness of the forces after the incident. Intense clashes were going on in town when this report was filed.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed in the main town

Clashes erupt in Sopore after youth stage demo to demand release of students
Clashes erupted between government forces and protesters in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after congregational Friday prayers.
Earlier, protests were held against the detention of students and other youth.
Scores of youth who had assembled near Markazi Jamia Masjid tried to march into the town when forces lobbed teargas shells to disperse them. This triggered minor clashes in the area.

Youth clash with government forces in Pulwama, Hajin
Clashes erupted after Friday prayers between youth and government forces in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
Reports said that soon after culmination of Friday prayers youth marched towards main chowk from Jamia Masjid Hajin and hurled stones at the forces deployed there.
Witnesses said that the forces responded by firing tear smoke shells, triggering clashes.
Clashes also erupted in Pulwama town after youth hurled stones on forces.

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