Parts of Lal Chowk shut down after clashes break out

Parts of Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of the city, today witnessed a shutdown as protests broke out in the area against detention of JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik.
A group of youths took out a procession from Maisuma locality here, raising slogans against Malik's detention at Kothibagh police station here this morning and demanded his release, official sources said.
Youths started pelting stones on the policemen posted in the area for law and order duty, sources said adding, police chased away the protesters using batons, tear smoke and pepper gas shells.
One youth was detained during the clashes, they said.

Shops in Budshah Chowk and adjoining areas downed shutters as soon as clashes between protesters and police broke out.
Malik was not allowed to hold a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi yesterday and was put on a flight to Srinagar early this morning.
He was taken into custody by police at Srinagar airport soon after his arrival and lodged at Kothibagh police station.
However, the JKLF leader has now been admitted to SKIMS hospital for treatment as he was complaining of giddiness, a spokesman of the separatist group said.