Protestors wave Pakistani, ISIS flags in Srinagar

Srinagar: Clashes broke out on Friday between a group of youths and security forces in Srinagar during which some separatist elements waved flags of Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and ISIS.

As soon as Friday prayers got over at Jami Masjid in the Nowhatta area of the city, a group of youths waved the controversial flags and raised pro-separatist and pro- Pakistani slogans, officials said.

They said police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the stone-pelting mob and restore law and order. The officials said that the youths also set fire to the tricolour before marching towards Nowhatta Chowk on their way towards Khanyar Chowk.

However, they were stopped by a large contingent of police and CRPF personnel stationed there, triggering the clashes, which were still going on when reports last came in, the officials said. There is no report of anybody being hurt in the incident, they added.

Meanwhile, the Congress launched an attack on the Modi-led NDA Government over the incident, saying the latter is going soft on separatists.

"The Pakistani flag is flying in the Kashmir valley since the day Mr. Mufti Mohammad took over as the Chief Minister with the support of the BJP and the Prime Minister," Congress leader PC Chacko told ANI.

"The fact is that the government in Jammu and Kashmir and the Central Government is going soft on separatists. Separatists are getting all assistance from across the border and challenging the government," he added.