12 injured as Army opens fire in Baramulla
Srinagar, Sept 03:
Even as the day passed off largely peaceful, the situation turned volatile in North Kashmir’s Baramulla town when army opened fire to disperse protesters, objecting to the removal of Pakistani flag from a mobile tower.
At least 12 persons were injured, seven of them due to bullets, official sources said. They said that the trouble erupted when troops from army’s 46 Rastriya Rifles spotted a Pakistani flag hoisted on a mobile tower in Sabzi Market near Cement Bridge in the town. As the troops went to remove it, they came under heavy stone pelting. The troops allegedly opened fire, in which seven persons were injured. The injured have been identified as Tanveer Ahmad Gojri son of Sonaullah, Mohammed Yaseen Dar son of Mohammed Rajab, Amir Qadeer son of Mohammad Qadeer, Shabir Ahmad son of Abdul Rehman, Irfan Ahmad Son of Manzoor Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad Tantray Son of Abdul Rehman and woman Shareefa wife of Ghulam Mohidin of Handwara were injured.
Two of the injured, Gojri who sustained thigh injury and Dar, who was hit on leg, are said to be critical in SHMS hospital here.
Later, they said, police and security forces reached the spot and tried to control the mob. Five persons were injured in the police and security forces action as they resorted to massive baton charge.
When contacted, defence ministry spokesman Lt Col J S Brar expressed ignorance about the incident. “I am not aware about any such incident,” Brar said.
Four persons were injured when police used teargas canisters and resorted to baton charge against a group of stone-pelting mob in Kangan area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Reports and official sources said that soon after the Friday prayers, scores of youth took to streets in Kangan and resorted to stone pelting on police and security forces, prompting police to use batons and teargas canisters against them. Four persons were injured in the clashes.
Two persons were injured in clashes between stone-pelting youth and police at Sopore town in Baramulla district, sources said.
At least three persons were injured in clashes between stone-pelting youth and police in Nowhatta area here. The clashes ensued soon after the congregational prayers in the historic Jamia Masjid.
A police spokesman here said, Police exercised maximum restraint and dispersed the stone pelters using minimum force.
“One person Mushtaq Ahmed Shah of Gojwara received minor injuries at Nowahatta,” a police spokesman said here.
Earlier, life returned to normal in Kashmir valley including southern Kashmir’s Anantnag district where authorities lifted curfew after four days today.
Official sources said that curfew was lifted from Anantnag this morning much to the respite of the people who were confined to their houses sans any relation for past four days following the killing of a boy, Irshad Ahmad Parray on August 30 last
However, they said, curfew was imposed in Kunzar area along the Srinagar- Gulmarg road. Locals said loudspeaker announcement were made in the area to the effect. Deputy Commissioner Baramulla could not be contacted for the comment as people termed it unwarranted.
Elsewhere, markets teemed with life in wake of the relaxation for one day by the separatist Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
All shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and a few educational institutions across the valley resumed their work this morning. The transport also returned on all the roads and highways.
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Srinagar, Sept 03:
Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadhan, passed off peacefully in Kashmir valley today.
In Srinagar—the summer capital of the state, the biggest congregation was held at the historic grand Jamia Masjid in the heart of the old city. Many thousand people, including a large number of women, joined the Friday prayers. Chairman of his moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, addressed the gathering. Soon after the prayers, Mirwaiz led thousands of people as they marched towards ‘Dastageer Sahib’ Khaniyar and dispersed there peacefully.
Second of the biggest congregation, was held at Asar-e-Sharif, Dargah Hazratbal, where more than fifty thousand people offered Friday prayers.
Congregational prayers were also held at Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahlehadith, Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif, Janab Sahib, Soura; Asar-e-Sharif, Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat Dastgeer Sahib, Khanyar, Ziarat Dastgeer Sahib, Sarai Bala; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib, Khanqah-e-Mualla, and several other mosques and shrines in Srinagar.
The hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani led thousands of people after offering congregational prayers at Pather Masjid in the old city. Eyewitnesses said that soon after the prayers, Geelani marched nearly a kilometer near Kaka Sarai SHMS here before addressing the rally. The people later dispersed off peacefully.
In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, mass rallies were taken in Ompora, Nagam Chadoora, Main Chowk Budgam, Hyderpora and Khasahib soon after the congregational Friday prayers.
Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yaseen Malik addressed a gathering in Char-e-Sherief in the district.
Peaceful mass rallies were taken in several Masjids in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and the shopian districts. Biggest of the rallies was witnessed in main Jamia masjid in Anantnag. Thousands of worshipers offered Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Ahle-Hadith in Anantnag town. Large congregations were witnessed also at Jamia Masjid Reshi Bazaar, Sheikh-ul-Alam Masjid, Masjid Shareef, KMD adda, Masjid Noor, KP Road, Masjid-e-Baitul Mukarram.
Thousands of people also offered congregational prayers in Pulwama, Kakapora, Tral, Bijbhera, Nayana, Lasibal, Sernal, Qazigund, Kokernag, Ka’aba Marg, Asar-e-Sharif Pinjora, and other parts of southern Kashmir region.
In north Kashmir’s, large congregations were offered in all the three districts including Baramulla, Bandipora and frontier Kupwara district. In Baramulla, large congregations were held in Astan-e-Aliya Khwaja Sahab, Astan-e-Aliya Janbaaz Wali (RA) and Masjid Baitul Mukarram.
Reports said that many people took out a mass protest rally from Baitul Mukarram in main town. Shouting slogans in favour of Islam and carrying green flags, people marched through lanes and by-lanes before dispersing off peacefully.
In the Sopore town, the largest congregations were held at Jamia Masjid, Khanqah-e-Mualla and Tujjar Shrief.
In Kupwara district, reports said, largest congregation was held in Main town where thousands o people offered the Friday prayers. The other gathering where witnessed in Bohama, Trehgam, Ragipora, Rawatpora, Lalpora Lolab and other mosques. In Bandipora, congregation prayers were held in all the mosques with largest ones witnessed in Jamia Masjid in Main town and Ajas.
Reports of mass prayers were also received from Ganderbal district with thousands of people offering the prayers in Main Jamia Masjid in Duderhama and Jamia Masjid Kangan.
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