At least four people were injured, one of them critically injured Friday when police fired tear smoke shells and warning shots to quell an anti-Indian demonstration in India-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The protest demonstration broke out in Chanpora area of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Reports pouring in from the area said a large number of people took to the streets in response to separatist call for a march. The people shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans were impeded by a posse of police and India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers, thereby triggering a clash.
While police fired tear smoke shells and warning shots, the protesters were seen hurling stone and brick pieces on the contingents of police and paramilitary troopers.
All the injured have been removed to the hospital for treatment; however of them condition of a 22-year-old Mohammed Iqbal Khan is stated to be critical.
Soon after the news about police firing spread in the city, hundreds of people from other localities took to the streets to stage protests.
Meanwhile, authorities fearing spreading of clashes Friday re- imposed curfew in several parts of city.
The strict restrictions were enforced by thousands of policemen and India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed along the streets and roads of Srinagar city in full riot gear.
The restrictions also hit Friday afternoon congregational prayers in the grand mosque (Jamia Masjid) of Srinagar city for the fifth consecutive Friday.
The head priest of Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest. Farooq is also a known moderate separatist leader of the region.
Protests triggered in the region last month after a 17-year-old youth was killed in police action on June 11. The killing was followed by 16 more mostly of teenagers over a month in similar actions.
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