Srinagar, Feb 23 (UNI) People took to streets again, this afternoon in protest against fake encounter killings and custodial disappearance of youths in the Kashmir valley.

Led by a senior leader of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Masarat Alam, people at Shaheed Gunj took to streets immediately after offering Friday prayers in the local mosques.

Raising slogans against the state government and security forces, the demonstrators were demanding immediate action against those involved in the custodial disappearance of thousands of people in the valley.

They later marched through different streets, including historic Lal Chowk and Regal chowk before dispersing peacefully.

Similar protests were held at Dalgate against alleged custodial disappearance of a local youth.

The demonstrators, mostly women, alleged that one Firdous Ahmad was picked up in 2000 by the security forces in the area without any reason.

The family members said that they had visited all the interrogation and detention centres in the state but could not get any clue about his whereabouts.

A report said people at Humhama in the central Kashmir district of Badgam also took to streets this afternoon demanding whereabouts of a local youth, missing after his arrest by the security forces.

UNI