No curfew

Curfew lifted, Kashmir remains shut

Srinagar, July 24: For the third week in running, normal life remained paralyzed in Kashmir Valley while as stone-pelting clashes were reported in many areas, leaving several persons injured. There is no respite ahead for the state administration also as the separatist amalgam has announced fresh protest calendar, calling for more protests and shutdown as part of its ongoing “Quit Kashmir Campaign”.

Shops and business establishments, educational institutions, remained closed and transport off the roads due the shutdown even as curfew was lifted in Sopore, Pulwama, Bandipora and the Kupwara.

In Srinagar, the summer capital, hundreds of security forces and policemen continued to stand guard on the deserted streets to foil any attempt of the people to stage protests. Late in evening, stone-pelting protesters took to streets at Fateh Kadal and Habba Kadal. Security forces resorted with teargas smoke shells. There was no report about injury to anyone during the clashes.

Tough restrictions prevailed for the second consecutive day in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district and frontier Kupwara district following violent protests and clashes yesterday that left many people injured.

Reports of protests demonstrations were received from Shopian and Baramulla district where at-least a dozen persons were injured.

They said hundreds of people took to streets at main Chowk Shopian this morning and staged demonstrations. The protesters marched through Bon Bazar, Jamia Masjid, Main Chowk before reaching Deputy Commissioner’s Office where some of the protesters hurled stones. Security Forces and the police, deployed in the area, resorted to baton charge and tear smoke shells to disperse the stone pelting youth. At least, five people were injured in the ding-dong clashes that continued for several hours, they added. .

In northern Baramalla district, reports of demonstrations were received from Palhalan Pattan and main town Sopore.

The valley has remained shut for past 39 days since turbulence began on June 11, when a teenager Tufail Matoo was killed by a teargas shell in Rajouri Kadal of the old city.

In the subsequent unrest, 16 more people including a bystander woman were killed by security forces and police, triggering a never ending wave of protests.

Meanwhile, the separatist Hurriyat Conference led by jailed leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani issued fresh protest calendar. There will be no strike tomorrow and Tuesday while shutdown and protests continue for the week ahead upto Friday. There is relaxation on Saturday and strike on August 1 as per the calendar.