The first international marathon organised in Kashmir was disturbed on Sunday morning after some youth started pelting stones on the programme venue at the Kashmir University in Srinagar.
The protesters were chanting pro-freedom slogans and waved Pakistani flags outside the venue, leading to clashes between youth and security forces.
The first international marathon was scheduled to begin from Kashmir university and to pass from the banks of world famous Dal Lake.
Soon a huge number of people started gathering at the venue and some unidentified youth resorted to stone pelting chanting pro-freedom slogans, triggering clashes between security forces and youth. According to eyewitnesses, scores of people were injured.
15 foreign athletes were expected to take part in the 21 km race, while more than 15,000 participants had registered for this half marathon.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah had also registered for this first international half-marathon. After the clashes, he tweeted,”The theme for the 5 KM run was ‘save the Dal.’ It’s such a pity that politics had to come in the way of that also.”