Normal life was disrupted for several hours in civil lines areas of Srinagar on Wednesday when police clashed with protesters who demanded release of several detained persons. The area was tense and observed shutdown for several days after JKlF chairman Yasin Malik initiated a hunger strike to protest against what he called high-handedness of police against people living in Maisuma and adjacent areas.
Malik lives in Maisuma where his party has headquarters also. He was recently released by the authorities after being detained for several weeks in the wake of Assembly elections. Malik and other separatist leaders had called for poll boycott which evoked feeble response unlike in the past.
A group of youngsters joined Malik in hunger strike when police swooped on them triggering a clash. Eyewitnesses said that in response to stone-pelting that forced halt of traffic on Maulana Azad Road, police fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
Reports said that after hours of ding-dong battles between youth and police, the authorities agreed to release all the four persons detained by the police. Soon after their release Malik ended his hunger strike.