Srinagar: Some jail inmates were injured amid massive clashes and damages to the infrastructure at Srinagar’s central jail here, leading to imposition of the restrictions in the Old City parts and reducing of internet speed in three district of Valley including this summer capital of the state.
Reports said that last evening when authorities started to move some jail inmates from a particular barrack for “moving participations and other renovation”, there was a hue and cry as the inmates felt that they are being shifted outside the state.
Soon the situation took ugly turn as some inmates burnt a temporary shelter and tried to come to the outer cordon of the jail, reports said.
Senior police and civil officers including Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary reached the spot at around 9 p.m. and tried to control the situation.
The authorities also rushed additional companies of the CRPF to the jail to bring the situation under control, reports said.
However, the protests by the inmates continued throughout the night amid tear gas shelling and pellet firing. Amid the clashes, there were gas cylinder blasts which led to damage to three barracks and a building, report said. It was not immediately known how the barrack gas cylinder blasts took place but the fire was brought under the control. However, there was no let up in the protests by the inmates and it continued throughout the night.
Meanwhile authorities have imposed restrictions in parts old city including Nowhatta, housing the historic Jamia Masjid.
Reports said that barricades have been erected at several places and people are not being allowed to move. The authorities also reduced the internet speed across Srinagar and two south Kashmir districts of Kulgam and Anantnag.
