Protesters in south Kashmir's Shopian district set a mini-secretariat building on fire on Sunday. Fresh clashes broke out at a time when an all-party delegation led by Rajnath Singh is currently in Kashmir to discuss solutions to restore peace in the region.
Kashmir has been hit by violence ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in July. Normal life has been crippled in the Valley as curfew continued in several regions for the 58th day.
According to an official, people in Penjoora village of Shopian attempted to take out a protest rally which was eventually stopped by the security forces which led to clashes between the protesters and the police.
Amid the clashes, the protesters set a government building in the area on fire. The government building was a mini-secretariat which houses the deputy comissioner's office, the official added. Reports state that in order to disperse the protesters, the police had to resort to baton charge and tear-gas shelling. The official also said that some injuries have been reported in the clashes but more details are still awaited.
Amid the Kashmir unrest, the protesters also burnt the house of the ruling PDO's block president Gulzar Ahmed on Saturday in Kulgam.
"Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar. The curfew has been lifted from Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in the uptown city in view of the improving situation," a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said that the curfew in downtown areas of Srinagar continues as a precautionary measure after the separatists have asked the people of Kashmir to occupy Lal Chowk, Airport road and district headquarters against the all-party delegation's visit.
An all-party delegation headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar on Sunday. The delegation has begun its two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and is expected to interact with a cross-section of people.
