Clashes at two places in Srinagar

Clashes were witnessed at two places today in Srinagar as police scuttled protests, including a sit-in planned by separatist JKLF at the historic Lal Chowk to protest against "choking of political space and promotion of religious hatred" in the state.
A video journalist was injured in one such clash near the Jamia Masjid area in old city, police said.
Activists of separatist JKLF clashed with police near Lal Chowk after they were prevented from proceeding to the venue of their sit-in, police officials said.
Dozens of these activists were moving in a procession from JKLF headquarters in Maisuma area towards Lal Chowk, which is a distance of a few kms, shortly after Friday prayers. Police intercepted them near Budshah Chowk, leading to clashes between the two sides, police said.

The JKLF activists pelted stones at police which responded by lobbing teargas shells, the officials said.
Eight JKLF activists were taken into preventive custody and lodged at Kothibagh police station, they said.

There was no report of any casuality in the clashes which were continuing when last reports were received.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, who was to lead the protest, was detained by police yesterday during a raid on his Maisuma residence after the group announced its programme to stage a sit-in at Lal Chowk after Friday prayers to protest against "choking of political space" by PDP-led government in the state.

Condemning the police action, a spokesman of the JKLF said the sit-in was planned to protest a spree of arrests, restrictions and ban on all kinds of political activities and against promotion of "religious hatred" in Jammu Kashmir.
Meanwhile, a group of youth clashed with police after Friday prayers in and around Jamia Masjid in interior city.
The youth indulged in stone-pelting, prompting police to fire teargas shells to restore law and order, the officials said. They said some of the youth displayed controversial flags during the protest.
One video journalist was hit by a stone in the head, police officials said.

Barring these clash, the Friday prayers passed off peacefully across the valley.