A youth was thrashed by locals on Tuesday when he tried to unfurl the Tricolor at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk. He was whisked away to the Kothi Bagh police station as a group of Kashmiri youth retaliated by raising pro-Pakistan slogans.

The incident took place in the morning in the heart of Srinagar’s commercial hub. There was commotion as local youths and men of the J-K Police rushed towards the Ghanta Ghar in the middle of the Lal Chowk where a group of youths were displaying the national flag.

Policemen dragged the youth towards the picket near the Palladium cinema while some miscreants pounced at him and beat him up.

The miscreants raised slogans in favour of terrorist Zakir Musa who is chief of Al Qaeda-linked group Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind and was seeking Islamisation of J-K.

Later, CRPF personnel dispersed the unruly mob that surrounded the police picket.

On the other hand, a video of some local boys and girls waving Pakistan flag  was uploaded on the social media.

Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has asked the people to observe the August 15 as “black day”, but extended “heartiest” felicitations to the people and government of Pakistan on their Independence Day that is being celebrated on Tuesday.

In a statement, Geelani said that Kashmiris are “highly grateful to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for extending its wholehearted moral, political and diplomatic support to our just cause and struggle since 1947. We pray to Almighty Allah for peace, strength, stability, progress and prosperity of Pakistan for a strong and stable Pakistan is very important for the resolution of Kashmir issue”.

It may be recalled that few youngsters had in December last year unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk. President of the state BJP Ravinder Raina had described the incident as an eye opener for all the anti-nationals.

A lone woman was taken into custody last year when she raised pro-India slogans in the Lal Chowk on the Independence Day. She chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” before the police whisked her away from there.

Kin of martyr Sukhdev Thapar, who was hanged by British along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, had in July asked Governor NN Vohra to allow them to hoist the Tricolor in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on this Independence Day.