Srinagar:
77 police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured during clashes with protesters and stone pelting mobs in Jammu and Kashmir today, a police spokesman said.
More than 50 civilians also received injuries during police action and stone pelting.
The clashes had broken out at several places across the valley despite a strict curfew imposed in all the 10 districts of Kashmir province. Friday prayer congregations were also not allowed in any major mosque including the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today. The authorities feared that congregations may well turn into protest demonstrations.
After Afzal Guru's hanging a month ago, the valley is brewing with tension and the government had to impose curfews and restrictions so that protests do not spread. Four people have died during the clashes with security forces and more than 200 have been injured during this period.
The recent killing of 24-year-old Tahir Ahmad Sofi in Army firing in Baramulla has worsened the situation and protests have spread from north to south Kashmir.
A police spokesman said in south Kashmir 180 police and CRPF have been injured during clashes and more than 100 vehicles, most of them belonging to police and security forces, have been damaged by angry protesters during last one month.
Even as the police has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against senior Army officer Colonel Dalbinder Singh for his alleged involvement into the killing, and the Army too has ordered a court of inquiry into the incident, the family has declined to accept the ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh announced by the state government.