Indian Muslims Protest Anti-Islam US Film, Burnt US Flags

New Delhi, Sept 22, IRNA – Indian Muslims held demonstrations in Jammu against the anti-Islam video made in the US and burnt US flags after Friday prayers. They also blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway bypass and shouted anti-US slogans, pti reported. "It's a deliberate attempt of West to hurt sentiments of Muslims and they have been doing this quite often taking advantage of freedom of expression," Mufti Nissar told reporters in Jammu. The protests were also held by the community members in groups led by Muslim Welfare Trust, All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Haj House members in Tallab Khitika, Press Club and Railway Station areas. Meanwhile in Kashmir valley Police burst teargas shells to stop radical 'Dukhtaran-e-Millat' (daughters of nation) from taking out a rally in protest against the anti-Islamic video. Police swung into action soon after dozens of burqa-clad activists appeared at Munawarabad locality in Srinagar and tried to march towards Lal Chowk in violation of prohibitory orders and strict restrictions in force in the city, official sources said. They said police fired tear-smoke shells and used batons to chase away the protestors who were chanting anti-US and pro-Islam slogans. The women activists took shelter in nearby houses and later five of them including their leader Syeda Asiya Indrabi were taken into preventive custody and shifted to a local police station. The sources said thousands of people took to streets after Friday prayers at Pulwama district town, 32 kms from Srinagar, but the protestors dispersed peacefully. Hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the anti-Islam video and arrest of youth by police. Meanwhile, a police spokesman said barring a few incidents of minor stone pelting, the situation across Kashmir remained peaceful, adding that peaceful marches were taken out at many places across the Kashmir valley against the blasphemous movie clips./end