Over 200 injured in clashes as MPs' team visits J&K; Separatists reject talks

Srinagar: More than 200 people were injured in clashes between stone pelters and security forces in Kashmir on Sunday, on a day an all-party parliamentary delegation was here to assess the ground situation in the valley where normal life remained paralysed for 58th consecutive day.

Separatists had refused to hold any dialogue with members of the delegation. Four opposition members tried to reach out to them in their personal capacity, but even they were turned away.

Read: 4 MPs from all-party delegation reach out to separatists, Geelani snubs them

The situation continued to be tense even though there was no curfew in the valley except in some areas of Srinagar falling under the Police Stations of Khanyar, Safakadal, Nowhatta, Rainawari and M R Gunj, a police spokesman said.

10 incidents of stone pelting were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Awantipora and Sopore, he said.

In Shopian district of south Kashmir, clashes broke out in the morning and continued for most part of the day with protestors setting ablaze the mini-secretariat building which houses the Deputy Commissioner's office, a police official said.

"In Shopian, a mob attacked and set ablaze mini secretariat Shopian. The fire was brought under control. However, the structure suffered partial damage," he said.

The clashes erupted after police stopped people in Penjoora village of the district from taking out a rally, the official said, adding over 100 people were injured.

He said the security forces used baton charge and tear- gas shelling to disperse the protestors.

Clashes were also reported from Tral area of Pulwama district where more than 60 people were hurt in action by security forces against the stone pelters.

"In Tral, a huge mob pelted stones on the police and security forces. Some of the miscreants, when chased, entered a Ziyarat (shrine) and again started pelting stones from the compound of the Ziyarat," the spokesman said, adding police "cautiously" handled the situation.

Protestors also attacked the house of ruling PDP MLA from Tral constituency Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, breaking the window panes of the building.

"There were clashes between protestors and security forces in Tral and amidst those clashes, some miscreants attacked the house of Tral legislator Mushtaq Ahmad Shah with stones," a police official said.

He said the protestors broke the window panes of the house, but no one was injured. The forces deployed in the area fired several tear-gas canisters and managed to disperse the protestors from the spot, the official said.

In Sopore town of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, at least 25 people were hurt in the clashes during the day, the official said. Condition of three of the injured persons is stated to be critical.