45 injured in fresh clashes in valley

At least 45 persons were injured yesterday as fresh clashes broke out between stone-pelting mobs and security personnel in the Valley.

At least 45 persons were injured yesterday as fresh clashes broke out between stone-pelting mobs and security personnel in the Valley.

The clashes between protestors and security personnel erupted at six places across the Valley, including Shopian in south Kashmir, Sopore and Tangmarg in the north and Soura, Nowhatta and Sabzi Mandi areas of Srinagar resulting in injuries to 45 persons, police said.

The Kashmir valley has been rocked by unrest since a student was killed by a police tear-gas shell on June 11.

The majority of the protestors were injured in Shopian, 55 kms from here, as they hit the streets early and engaged the security agencies in pitched battles since morning.

Residents of the town came out on the streets this morning and staged demonstrations in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

They were asked to disperse but they refused to budge and started hurling stones at the security forces, prompting them to use pellet guns after teargas shelling and lathi charge proved futile.

Earlier, authorities lifted curfew from the Kashmir Valley, barring Kupwara district, following a break in the strike by separatists.

Educational institutions, banks, shops, and offices opened and all modes of transport were back on the roads in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley, police said.