Srinagar, Dec 28 : Hundreds of people in Srinagar today mourned and protested against the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Benazir, 54, was shot dead in a sniper cum suicide bomb attack in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Protesters turned violent and pelted stones on security forces. The forces had to use teargas bullets to disperse the violent protestors. Security personnel, including media persons were injured in the incident.

The protesters were shouting slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad' and 'Benazir Zindabad'.

Hardline Kashmiri separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for a daylong shutdown in the valley.

Meanwhile, the dead body of Benazir was laid to rest in her family graveyard in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh this afternoon.

Benazir's relatives, friends, party leaders, workers were among the hundreds of thousands of people who were present during the burial ceremony.

Before her assassination, Benazir had addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi. At least 30 other people reportedly died in the attack and several more were injured.

Benazir, who was campaigning for the January 8 elections, had twice been the country's Prime Minister, in 1988 for 20 months and again between 1993 and 1996.

Her killing is likely to provoke an agonised response from her followers, especially from her loyal following in Sindh Province.

She was key to her party's political fortunes, as she was seen as a major political player in the forthcoming elections. The PPP has the largest support base in the country.

Rawalpindi, a garrison city, is seen as one of the country's most secure cities, making the attack on Benazir even more embarrassing for President Pervez Musharraf and the military authorities.

Benazir had returned from self-imposed exile on October 18 after nine years out of Pakistan where she had faced corruption charges. On the day of her return, she led a motor cavalcade through Karachi. It was hit by a double suicide attack that left over 140 people dead. (ANI)