Strict curfew and communication clampdown continue on 14th day Friday in Kashmir while one more injured youth succumbed at SKIMS Hospital after 10 days of treatment.In fresh firing an 18 year old youth identified as Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat son of Bashir Ahmed, a resident of Charsoo Awantipora was killed after he received a bullet in his abdomen during a protest march. Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital Dr Nazir Ahmed Chowdary while confirming the death of the youth said that he was brought dead in the hospital.Ishfaq Ahmad, who was injured during the clashes at Hiller in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical sciences here on Thursday night.Ishfaq’s body was taken to his village on Friday morning and the last rites performed. With this the death toll in ongoing unrest has mounted to 48 including a policeman.
In view of the protests called by separatists after Friday congregational prayers, authorities had beefed up the security to thwart the protests, particularly in Srinagar's old city and district headquarters.The unrest continues for the 14th day on Friday after the killing of local Hizb Commander Burhan Wani by armed forces in Bumdoora village of Kokernag in Anantnag district on July 8 this month.Mobile phones and internet services remained suspended in Kashmir, however, only BSNL Broadband and post-paid services are being allowed to operate. Train services also remained suspended.Top Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik on Wednesday extended the strike call up to July 25. Separatists have appealed the people to continue the shutdown till Monday.Reports from North Kashmir’s Sopore town said that thousands of people took out a pro-freedom procession shortly after the culmination of Friday congregational prayers. The town people had decided to offer Friday prayers collectively at Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Eyewitnesses told CNS that thousands of people marched towards Sopore town from Jamia Masjid. The atmosphere reverberated with pro-freedom slogans.
Much to the annoyance of people part of procession, police stopped them near Sopore Bridge, prompting protesters to attack the forces with stones. Forces fired tear-smokes to disperse. The protesters alleged that government forces targeted them with pellets without any provocation, a charge vehemently refuted by police. “Even little children suffered pellet injuries. We were organizing a peaceful protest when suddenly forces resorted to tear gas shelling and used pellets,” said a protester. The intense clashes between the police and protesters continued for hours in the town.A pro-freedom procession was also taken out in Ganistan Sonawari area of Bandipora district. Reports said that shortly after the Friday prayers; people in large numbers assembled outside the Jamia Masjid Ganistan and took out a pro-freedom protest. Carrying placards and banners seeking punishment to the killers of innocent civilians, the protesters denounced the killings and urged upon international community to impress upon India to get the long pending Kashmir issue resolved. The protest march culminated peacefully. Protests were also held at Bandipora after Friday prayers.Two persons suffered pellet injuries after according to locals police targeted them when they were coming out from a house in Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The injured were identified as Bashir Ahmed and Ali Muhammad. Locals told CNS that there were two separate peaceful processions taken out in Pattan by male and female folk. “The pro-freedom processions were peaceful.
As they were supposed to end, the police fired tear-gas shells on protesters creating panic in the area. The policemen also chased away protesters. Two persons who had arrived in the town to condole the demise of a local suffered pellet injuries and were taken to hospital. One of them Bashir Ahmed was referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar,” the locals said.In Palhalan area, agitated youth amid pro-freedom slogans resorted to heavy stone-pleting. Police used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters. Reports said that clashes in the area continued for hours.Reports said that pro-freedom processions in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district were taken out in scores of hamlets including Koimouh, Wanpou, Devsar, Dooru, Mandhol, Vesu, Agru, YK Pora, Sopat Tengapora, Banghal, Berigam, Gundipora, Chowgam, Khargund, Nawa, Babapora, Behihama, Kund and other areas. Large number of mourners attend the Chahrum of the three slain persons who were killed by Army at Chorut Chowgam Qazigund. Stone-pelting and tear-gas shelling were reported in Koimouh, Wanpou, Devsar and Dooru areas of the district. At Devsar police arrested at least three persons who reportedly attacked police personnel with stones.
Large number of people hit to roads after their arrest and clashed with the police.A police constable was seriously injured after he was hit by a stone in his eye during a stone-pelting incident in Khudwani area of Kulgam district. The wounded cop who was identified as Ajaz Ahmed Laway (399KG) son of Abdul Rashid a resident of Ganderbal was admitted in Emergency Hospital Qazigund for specialized treatment.At least two persons were injured after government forces according to locals opened fire at Kakapora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after people defied the prohabitory orders and took out a procession shortly after the Friday prayers. The injured were shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar.Reports said that six protesters were injured in Tral town one of them was shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment after government forces fired tear-smoke shells to disperse them who resorted stone-pelting post Friday prayers.At Saloora Ganderbal three CRPF personnel were injured in clashes with people. Clashes were also reported from Chewdara, Beerwah and Ariwah areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. At Ariwah a youth identified as Bilal Ahmed Nath son of Sanaullah Nath was injured and shifted to SKIMS after he suffered pellet injuries.Protest and minor clashes were reported from Nawab Bazar and Safakadal area of Srinagar city. (CNS)