Two dozen security men, protestors injured in Kashmir

 Over two dozen people were injured in clashes between security forces and stone-pelting protestors on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

Police said unruly protestors indulged in heavy stone-pelting at security forces in Tral town, where there had been tension since Monday after a youth was killed in firing by security forces in the Bamla forest area.

"Security forces used batons and tear smoke shells to quell the mob. Two dozen security men and protestors were injured in these clashes," said a police official.

According to police, Muhammad Khalid Wani, a youth belonging to Shariefabad village near Tral town, had gone to Bamla forest area on Monday along with three others with food for his brother Burhaan, who is a wanted militant active in the area.

"Wani was being shadowed by the security forces. After he reached the area where his brother was hiding along with other militants, the militants saw the security forces following him, and opened fire at them while trying to escape.

"Security forces retaliated and, in the exchange of fire, Wani was killed while the three other people who had gone with him to the forest were arrested.

"The militants, however, managed to escape," a security force officer said.

Earlier on Tuesday, police detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and another senior separatist leader Masrat Alam at Awantipora in Pulwama district while they were proceeding to Tral town. - IANS