Srinagar,

Srinagar/Jammu, Aug 25 : Three people were killed on Monday as security forces opened fire to control stone pelting protesters and atleast 70 others were injured in street battles with security forces in Srinagar and at many places across the Kashmir Valley.

According to reports, Shoukat Ahmad Khanday was shot dead and another youth injured when security forces opened fire to contain stone-pelting protesters, who came out on roads defying the curfew at Narbal, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

Srinagar, Kashmir - Police arrested three Kashmiri separatist leaders in India-administered Kashmir as protestors defied a curfew in the region and clashed with security forces Monday, leaving 22 people injured, officials said.

Two senior leaders of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, were arrested late Sunday night ahead of an anti-India protest march in state capital Srinagar's Lal Chowk area planned for Monday.

Srinagar, Aug 25 : Nearly 24 protesters were injured on Monday as stone pelting mobs defied curfew and fought street battles with security forces in Srinagar and at many places across the Kashmir Valley.

According to reports, defying curfew the protesters tried to march for a sit-in at Lal Chowk this morning. Security forces had to cane-charge, lob tear gas shells and fire several rounds in air to disperse the protesters.

Similar reports of mass defiance of curfew came from Hajan in Bandipora district, Kupwara town, Bijbehara in Anantnag district, Sopore in Baramulla district, Beerwah in Budgam district, Kulgam district town and several places in Srinagar city. Protesters also clashed with police at Digiana on the Jammu-Pathankot highway.

Srinagar/ Jammu, Aug 25: Despite curfew in all the ten districts of the Kashmir Valley, the Hurriyat leaders’ decision to go ahead with today’s Lal Chaowk rally prompted the State Government to place some of its senior leaders under house arrest, while detaining several other second-rung leaders.

With house arrests of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik and arrests of second-rung leaders, the Government has decided to clamp down on mass mobilisation by separatists in the heart of the city.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength to tackle any untoward situation and preventing people’s movements without valid curfew passes.

Srinagar, Aug 24 : Authorities in the Kashmir Valley on Sunday imposed an indefinite curfew following a call given by separatists for a rally at Lal Chowk to protest against the failure of the Centre in finding a resolution to the Kashmir issue. 

A day ahead of the ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’ march, announcements were made on loud speakers this morning about the imposition of the curfew and people were directed to stay indoors.