restive Kashmir

Over 3 dozen injured in restive Kashmir

Srinagar, July 23: Over three dozen people including ten security personnel were injured even as authorities imposed curfew and curfew-like restrictions in several parts of the Kashmir to prevent separatist march.

Hurriyat Conference led by incarcerated leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for march to historic “Khanqah-e-Moula” in city for people in Srinagar while it had urged people in other districts to rally towards district headquarters.

In this summer capital of the state, tough restrictions were enforced by thousands of security force and policemen as they remained deployed in deserted streets of Nowhatta, Gojwara, Saraf Kadal, Nawab Bazar, Safa Kadal and Eidgah areas of the old city to prevent the march.

As the authorities eased restrictions to allow people offer Friday, stone-pelting mobs appeared in several areas including Hyderpora, Zakura and Nishat. While police detained two protesters near Hyderpora, six policemen and a CRPF soldier were injured when stone-pelting protesters attacked a security vehicle near Nishat in outskirts of here on the banks of Dal Lake here shortly after Friday prayers, police said.

The security forces later fired several warning shots and burst teargas shells to disperse the mob in which five persons were reported injured.

A fresh wave of protests was sparked off after security forces allegedly shot dead a—Fayaz Ahmad Khanday in Baramulla three days ago. Seventeen people including a bystander woman were killed by security forces, triggering a never ending wave of protests.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Fayaz Ahmad and a woman Muneera wife of Ghulam Mohammad were injured when they were hit by stones during a clash at Kakapora in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. The condition of both of them is stated to be stable.

In the neighboring Shopian district, at least six people were injured when Police used force to disperse hundreds demonstrators near Jamia Masjid, main Chowk.

Curfew was also re-imposed in Bandipore, Kupwara and Baramulla districts of North Kashmir while severe restrictions were clamped in Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama districts of South Kashmir. However, despite curfew and restrictions, many people staged demonstrations in wake of the separatist call.

In frontier Kupwara district, thousands of people defied the curfew and took to streets at old Chowk, Regipora Chowk, main town, Kralpora, Hirri, Trehgam, Yunsoo and other areas. At least nine people, including two policemen sustained injuries in the clashes that continued for few hours.

Two policemen and three people were injured in protests and clashes in Bandipore district.

In the adjoining Baramulla district, where paramilitary CRPF and Police had sealed off all the entry and exit points, thousands of people staged demonstrations and clashed with security forces.

Protests against the recent killings were also held in Binner, Sheeri, Khanpora, Palhalan, Pattan and other areas of the district.

Station House Officer (SHO) Pattan, Abdul Majeed was injured after being hit by a bullet while chasing demonstrators in Palhalan area this evening.

There was no official word as to who fired the bullet while sources said that it went off accident from a police personnel while chasing the mob. The police officer was stable, they added.

Post –Friday protests and clashes were also reported from several areas of Srinagar and the Ganderbal districts.

Meanwhile, life continued to remain disrupted in the Valley for 17^th day today in a row as shops and educational institutions closed and transport off the roads due to the week-long shutdown called by the separatists.

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