Clashes erupt in held Kashmir after shrine fire

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Clashes erupt in held Kashmir after shrine fire

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The cause of the fire at the 200-year-old shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani was not immediately.

25 June,2012 02:42 pm

A fire destroyed a revered Muslim shrine in Indian occupied Kashmir on Monday, prompting anti-government protests by residents angered over what they said was a slow response by firefighters.The cause of the fire at the 200-year-old shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, in the heart of Srinagar city, was not immediately known. The blaze started from the roof of the shrine shortly after morning prayers and quickly engulfed the wooden structure, a police official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.Scores of firefighters tried to douse the flames, but protesters threw stones at them, saying their response was slow. Thousands of people later crowded nearby streets, chanting anti-India slogans and demanding Kashmirs freedom from Indian rule.Clashes erupted in at least four other neighborhoods in Srinagar, with protesters throwing stones at police and officers responding by firing bullets into the air and using tear gas, the officer said.There were no immediate reports of casualties. Shops and businesses stayed closed.