Pro-separatist youths clash with security forces in J&K

Youths from 'pro-separatist' groups clashed with police and paramilitary forces in the vicinity of historic Jamia Masjid here, but no one was injured in the clashes, police said.
The clashes broke out shortly after Friday prayers and continued for several hours during which law enforcing agencies fired dozens of teargas shells to chase away the stone-pelting mobs, officials said.
However, no one was reported injured in the clashes, which occurred at a few other adjoining areas, they said.
The trouble started when a group of youths -- some of them holding flags of ISIS, Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and Pakistan, besides posters of a 'most wanted' Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander -- tried to march towards Nowhatta Chowk from Jamia Masjid.

Police and paramilitary forces, who were deployed in strength due to expected Friday protests, swung into action to chase away the mob, the officials said.
They said intense clashes ensued between the two sides as the youth split into smaller groups and indulged in stone-pelting on the police and paramilitary forces in nearby areas, disrupting normal activities.

Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the area to restore law and order situation, the officials said, adding efforts are on to identify and nab those waving the controversial flags and posters.
Last week, a group of youths were arrested by police after Friday protest, following which a vast area observed a shutdown to protest alleged "highhandedness" of police.

Meanwhile, scores of Muslim League activists staged a demonstration at Amirakadal bund here to protest the re-arrest of their chairman Masarat Alam.
As the activists tried to march towards nearby Lal Chowk, police detained five of them while chasing others, the officials said.