Clashes continue for second day in Jammu; strike in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Violent clashes between security forces and agitators continued for the second day on Saturday in Maisuma area of the city even as Kashmir valley observed a spontaneous strike over the killing of two persons in police firing.

Several slogan-shouting protesters took out a procession from Maisuma locality in the city today. The protesters were intercepted by CRPF personnel who used batons to disperse them, triggering intense clashes as the agitators indulged in stone pelting, official sources said.

So far, there were no report of any injury in the clashes but several persons were beaten up by paramilitary forces. The situation was put under control after the intervention of police, the sources said.

Agitators said they took out the rally in protest against the use of "brute force" during peaceful protests yesterday in which two persons were killed and more than 130 including JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik was injured in police action.

Shops and business establishments opened as usual in the morning but after clashes broke out between protestors and CRPF personnel, a spontaneous strike was observed, the sources said.

Within no time all shutters were down and offices closed and transporters started beating hasty retreat to safety, resulting in traffic jams.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathy said some "abberations" might have been committed by the personnel in the volatile situation. He said the incident would be investigated and those guilty, if any, would be punished.