Police use tear gas, stun grenades in clashes with protesters

Описание: (11 Feb 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of protesters throwing stones; police trying to protect themselves with shields
2. Various of protesters throwing stones, police throw them back
3. Wide of policeman firing tear gas
4. Wide of policemen chasing protesters; gas rising after canister explodes
5. Various of police firing tear gas from vehicle 6. Wide of policemen chasing protesters; gas rising after canister explodes
7. Wide of members of JKLF (Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front) marching with photographs of Maqbool Butt, founder of JKLF
8. Wide of policemen detaining members of JKLF
9. Wide of paramilitary soldier standing guard at a barricade
10. Various of paramilitary soldiers standing guard during strike
STORYLINE:
Police fired tear gas shells in downtown Srinagar, capital of Indian Kashmir, on Thursday to disperse protesters who had gathered to mark the anniversary of the execution of a pro-independence leader 26 years ago.
Thousands of armed troops patrolled deserted streets and shops, businesses and government offices were shut as separatist groups held a general strike to mark the anniversary.
Police and paramilitary soldiers set up extra checkpoints on roads and warned residents of Srinagar to stay indoors in anticipation of protests.
The pro-independence Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front had called the general strike to mark the anniversary of the hanging of its founder, Mohammad Maqbool Butt, in a New Delhi prison in 1984 after an Indian court convicted him of killing an intelligence officer and conspiring to kill Ravindra Mhatre, an Indian diplomat in Britain.
The strike, held each year, was also supported by the main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
Police detained nearly a dozen members of the front early on Thursday as they tried to hold a protest in Srinagar''s main commercial hub.
Separatists and Butt''s family demand that his remains, interred in New Delhi''s high security Tihar Jail, be returned for a proper burial.
The government has refused to do so without giving any official reason, but likely feared the creation of a martyr''s shrine.
Muslim-majority Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed by both.
The neighbouring rivals have fought two wars over the territory since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.
Rebel groups have been fighting since 1989 for the region''s independence or its merger with Muslim Pakistan.
More than 68,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the uprising and subsequent crackdown.

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