Srinagar: While Friday clashes are not something new to Srinagar, today it turned fiercer after protesters raised flags 'thanking' JNU students for supporting the cause of Afzal Guru.
The clashes near Jama Masjid in downtown Srinagar saw youth carrying banners that proclaimed 'Thank You JNU' and 'Afzal our Hero' banners.
Gangs of young men pelted stones at the security forces and also raised slogans in support of Afzal Guru. They also raised flags of Pakistan and the Islamic State.
Guru, a Kashmiri, was executed for his involvement in the Parliament attack case.
The security forces retaliated but the youth, numbering around 200, fought back. Reports said that 6-8 persons, including a couple of policemen, were left injured.
The Afzal Guru controversy erupted after a group of JNU students organised a programme and termed the hanging of the Parliament attack convict as judicial killing and and shouted slogans against government for hanging him.
The incident created a huge storm and led to the arrest of a Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar.
Kumar was booked on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy for holding an anti-national event inside the university premises. His bail plea will come up for hearing at the Delhi High Court later today.
