Srinagar, Sep 4 (IANS): Violent clashes erupted between stone-pelting youth and security forces after Friday prayers in old city ares of Srinagar as authorities prevented a march being taken out, police said.

Soon after the congregational Friday prayers ended inside the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area, a group of youth came out on the streets displaying posters of Burhan Wani, commander of the separatist guerrilla outfit Hizbul Mujahedeen.

As the youth tried to take out a protest march, a large posse of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police intercepted them triggering clashes, which are still going on in the area.

Security forces used batons, tear smoke shells and pellet guns to disperse the youth, who however, kept on regrouping ensuing violent clashes continued in the area.

Panic gripped people in the area as shopkeepers pulled down shutters and traffic came to a halt.

Clashes between stone-pelting protesters and security forces have become routine for the last some months in this area.

Wani has emerged as a poster boy of militancy after his pictures were flashed on social networking sites, purportedly uploaded to give flip to separatist insurgency in the state.