Protests witnessed in Kashmir against anti-Islamic video

Police swung into action soon after dozens of Burqa-clad Dukhtaran activists appeared at Munawarabad locality here and tried to march towards Lal Chowk in violation of prohibitory orders and strict restrictions in force in the city, official sources said.

They said police fired tear-smoke shells and used batons to chase away the protestors who were chanting anti-US and pro-Islam slogans.

The women activists took shelter in nearby houses and later five of them including their leader Syeda Asiya Indrabi were taken into preventive custody and shifted to a local police station, the sources said.

Barring the clash prior to Friday prayers, they said the situation remained by and large peaceful.

The sources said thousands of people took to streets after Friday prayers at Pulwama district town, 32 kms from here, but the protestors dispersed peacefully.

Rallies and protests were also reported from different parts of Srinagar including Batmaloo and district and tehsil towns of the Valley.

However, the protests ended peacefully, they said.

Hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the anti-Islamic video and arrest of youth by police.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said barring a few incidents of minor stone pelting, the situation across Kashmir remained peaceful.

"A few stone pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar, Pulwama, Baramulla and Shopian," the spokesman said.

However, he said none was hurt in the clashes.

He said peaceful marches were taken out at many places across the Kashmir valley against the blasphemous movie clips.

"Groups of people staged peaceful marches in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Handwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Sopore, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Awantipora and dispersed peacefully," he said.