Over a dozen policemen injured in Srinagar clashes

At least fifteen policemen including three senior officers were injured on Monday in Srinagar during clashes between protesting students and security forces.

Students of the S.P. College, S.P. Higher Secondary School and the Government College for Women clashed with the forces in the city's Maulana Azad Road area after these institutions re-opened on Monday.

"Fifteen policemen including the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Imtiyaz Hussain Parray, SP East (Srinagar) Sheikh Faisal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Kothibagh, Imran are among the injured policemen", a senior police officer said.

Refusing to join classes, the students came out on the roads to block traffic on the busy road.

Police showed restraint while dealing with stone pelting students.

Water canons were used to disperse the protesting students.

Students brought down a brick wall inside the college campus and used the bricks to attack security forces.

Police said many students managed to come out of the school and college premises engaging in more intense clashes with the police.

"No pellet guns were used by the police to control the mob and this was done to avoid injuries to the protesting students," the officer said.

Tear smoke shells were used to quell the mob.

Eye-witnesses said a motorcycle pillion rider was also hit by a brick hurled by the students.

The injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment.

Markets in the Residency Road area and the city centre Lal Chowk were shut following the clashes.

The situation was controlled after six hours, police said.

Authorities had opened universities, colleges and higher secondary schools in the Kashmir Valley after over a week on Monday.

--IANS

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