Protests against youth's death turn violent in J&K

At least 35 persons including 28 cops were wounded in fierce clashes between security forces and protestors in Srinagar and other towns.Tuesday's strike was called by the two groups of the separatist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference to protest the killing of a 13-year old youth in in old city on Sunday evening.

The 13-year old Whamiq Farooq succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Srinagar on Sunday evening after he was hit by a tear gas shell on his head near Rajouri Kadal in Srinagar's old city area.

Clashes erupted in the strike-hit capital city on Tuesday morning as stone pelting youths took to streets in most parts of the old city and uptown areas and clashed with security forces who responded by firing warning shots in air and used batons and tear smoke to disperse the unruly mobs. The clashes continued till late on Tuesday evening.

Reports of clashes between the security forces and stone pelting mobs were also received from Anantnag, Pulwama towns in south and Baramulla and Sopore towns in north Kashmir. A police spokesman here said, "We exercised great restraint today and used minimum force to restore peace and order."