Kashmir on 21 August 2010

Peaceful day in curfew bound Kashmir

35 arrested in Bemina amid massive protests

Srinagar, Aug 21:

Kashmir valley saw a relative peaceful day even during curfew after many days in the present unrest that has claimed 62 lives in as many as 71 days.

Barring some sporadic incidents of stone-pelting clashes, there was no report about any major untoward incident reported anywhere in Valley.

Curfew was imposed in many parts of Srinagar, entire Sopore town in North Kashmir, Anantnag and Bijbehara towns in the south in the wake of a separatists' call for shutdown and protests.

“Areas under the jurisdiction of police stations of Srinagar district - Batamloo, Bemina, Qamarwari, Kralkhud, Nowhatta, Khanyar, M R Gunj, Safakadal, Rainawari, Maisuma, Shaheedgunj and Abi-guzar area of police station, Kothibagh will remain under curfew from 6 am till further orders”, District Magistrate, Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said.

Police said curfew will remain in force in Sopore, Anantnag and Bijbehara towns as a precautionary measure following the death of two persons in police firing on violent protesters yesterday.

Police and security forces detained at least 35 people in Nun Reshi Colony Bemina in outskirts of here.

Sources said that police and security forces made people in the colony to assemble in a particular place and later carried out parade, a reminiscent of early 90s when militancy was at its peak in the state.

They said later, thirty-five persons were bundled into vehicles and whisked away by police. As the arrested were being bundled in police cabs, local women came rushing and pleaded for the release of the detained. However, they were chased away, officials added.

Two cops were injured when some youth pelted stones upon the police party at Sheikhpora Budgam in which Constable Abdul Qayoom (No. 440/PTS) of Manigam sustained head injury and Constable Gulzar Ahmad (No.1827/B) sustained injury on his forehead. A police spokesman here said that the duo have been shifted to hospital. Reports of stone-pelting were received from Shopian and Natipora here. Security forces also chased away hundreds of protesters at Humhama on Srinagar-Jammu airport.

Shops, banks, educational institutions and private offices remained closed and all modes of transport was off the roads in most parts of the Valley.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager Tufail Ahmad Mattoo on June 11 after hit by a teargas shell at Gani Stadium near Rajouri Kadal. Sne then sixty two more people i