Major protests broke out in several localities here today after the body of a missing youth was recovered, with agitators torching a police vehicle and damaging another, prompting security personnel to open fire.

Shortly after police recovered the body of undergraduate student Asrar Mushtaq Dar, missing for the last six days, from Rainawari locality, groups of youth took to the streets, threw stones and enforced a strike in most parts of the city.

The body was found with the throat slit, officials said.

The protestors stopped a police vehicle at Budshah Chowk and torched it, the officials said, adding the occupants of the vehicle were beaten up by the agitators.

The protestors also damaged a police vehicle at Pratap Park area, they said. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC is already in force in the city.

Policemen, who were already deployed in strength in the area, opened fire to chase away the stone-pelting agitators but there was no report of any casualty, they said.

The protests broke out soon after the news about the recovery of the body of Dar reached Maisuma locality, where he hails from.

Policemen were engaged by groups of youths in street clashes in the area. While agitators pelted stones, policemen retaliated by lobbing of tear gas shells and lathi-charge.

The situation is tense, the officials said.