An armoured vehicle of the police was set ablaze during protests that erupted in south Kashmir’s Anantnag town on Friday against the killing of Rohingya Muslims in Burma. Demonstrations were also held at several places in the Kashmir valley.
Six policemen and four civilians were injured during the protests that took place after the midday congregational prayers in Anantnag town.
The injured included two officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Sub-Inspector, police officers said. However, a police spokesman said only two policemen were injured in the incident while the situation had been brought under control. The officers in the Anantnag district said the injured were stable and were discharged after treatment at a local hospital.
The protest erupted when the police intercepted a march held by locals, who were demonstrating against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma.
A group of policemen, who were chased by the protesters, abandoned an armoured vehicle outside the gate of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Anantnag’s Lal Chowk area, which was later set ablaze by the protesters.
Protests also erupted in several other districts, including the Srinagar city, where the authorities had imposed restrictions in scores of old city neighbourhoods to prevent demonstrations.
The city’s largest mosque, Jamia Masjid was also sealed and the midday congregational prayers were barred, the officers added.
The call for demonstrations against the killing of Rohingya Muslims in Burma had been made by the separatist groups, who have condemned the “silence of the international community” over the alleged massacres committed by the Myanmar army.
Members of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, held a protest march at Maisuma in the city and called for the trial of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, equating her with Hitler and Genghis Khan.