12 held after violence mars Kashmir's first-ever international marathon

Srinagar: The first International half marathon in restive Kashmir was turned into an ‘Azadi’ outburst on Sunday. Clashes between stone-throwing youth and police took place in and outside Kashmir University campus at Hazratbal here, the venue of flag-off and prize distribution ceremonies. Police said 12 persons have been arrested on charges of eve-teasing and molestation of female participants of the marathon.

As the marathon set off from the picturesque campus on the banks of Dal Lake, youth including students began chanting pro-freedom slogans and one of them waved Pakistan flag. The protesters also vandalized the stage and attempted to torch a police vehicle after the security forces intervened to break the protest by using bamboo sticks.

The event was attended by some ministers, top bureaucrats and other civil and police officials but State’s sports minister Imran Raza Ansari and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who were also to attend returned from half way after learning about eruption of clashes.

The clashes later spread out of the campus and this correspondent was caught in the middle of skirmishes between stone-throwing youth and police, first at Hazratbal and then again at nearby Habak Chowk. The protesting youth tore off the hoardings and banners that donned the marathon route and brought wooden carts used by labourers and fruit sellers from a nearby market to place them in the middle of the stretch of the road between Hazratbal and Habak to block the way.

Soon reinforcements arrived at the scene to remove the barriers and bring the situation under control. Police also fired teargas canisters and resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesting youth.

The half marathon was organised by Big 92.7 FM, a nationwide private FM radio station owned by noted businessman Anil Ambani. The organisers had advertised the event as the first International marathon in Srinagar and participation was open to everyone. Some International professional runners and cricketer Parvez Rasool were among around 5,000 people from different parts of the State and rest of the country participating in the marathon.

While clashes were underway, separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.com “There is no point of holding Indian Corporate sponsored marathons while most of the damage to our ecosystem is caused by the Indian troops”. Former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference (NC) working president Omar Abdullah tweeted “I was looking forward to a nice, quiet run which wasn't to be. Just as well I was advised against participating”. In yet another tweet, he said “The theme for the 5 KM run was 'save the Dal'. It's such a pity that politics had to come in the way of that also.”

Without mentioning displaying of Pakistan flag or chanting of pro-freedom slogans,  a statement issued by police here said  that the marathon was “flagged off as scheduled and the function was going on smoothly till some miscreants within the crowd started passing obscene and lewd comments at girl participants and those in the audience”. It added. “The incidents of passing remarks were also witnessed at Habak crossing. Instances of molestation of girls by rowdy elements were reported at the Kashmir University and en-route”.

The police said that FIRs have been registered in connection with the incidents of “molestation and eve teasing” at police station Nigeen and, so far, 12 “miscreants” involved in these have been arrested so far.

Meanwhile, thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba militant Irshad Ahamd Ganie alias Abdullah in his native village Padgampora in southern Pulwama district on Sunday. Abdullah who carried cash reward of Rs 1 million on his head was killed in a fire fight with security forces in the district’s Kakapora area on Saturday. Later the protesting mourners clashed with police which used tear smoke and fired rifle shots in the air to disperse them. Opposition NC leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “1000's attend a LeT militant's funeral in Padgampora, Kashmir (I heard 20k-30k). Still believe an economic package is the solution, do you??”