Authorities on Friday imposed strict curfew and restrictions across Kashmir to foil Jamia Masjid march called by the separatist leaders, while clashes broke out in several areas across Kashmir after Friday congregational prayers in which scores of protesters sustained injuries.
The Jamia chalo was called by separatists including Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik.Large contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed on roads and all the entry and exit points of old city were blocked with concertina wires and other barricades, witnesses said.According to KNS correspondent, scores of youth, chanting pro-freedom slogans tried to march towards UN office to submit a memorandum but police and CRPF swung into action to disperse them. Clashes broke out as police fired teargas shells to disperse and youth in return pelted stone on them.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone told KNS that the situation across Srinagar remained “peaceful” throughout the day.
Scores of people sustained injuries during the clashes between youth and forces in different areas across Kashmir.As per KNS correspondent, ten persons including two students sustained injuries in Kupwara district during clashes that broke out after the Friday congregational prayers.“Four civilian protesters sustained injuries in Trehgam, Kupwara, after forces and youth clashed. Four persons sustained injuries in Gushe Kupwara after forces opened fire on the protests in the localities. Two others were injured in Kuligam area of Lolab. Some among the injured persons were shifted to Kupwara hospital while some were referred to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital,” he said.Reports of protests were also reported from other Kupwara areas including Lalpora, Regipora, Trehgam, Gushe, Hatmulla, Kawari, Nagri, Vadhpora and Kralpora.
As soon as the Friday congregational prayers ended in the local Masjid’s, people staged protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir.As per KNS correspondent, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Delina area of Baramulla during which two person’s sustained injuries. “One among the injured was shifted to Srinagar’s Bone and Joint hospital while the other has shifted to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Baramulla,” witnesses said.
Clashes also erupted at some places in Bandipora district.Deputy inspector General Police (DIG), north Kashmir Range, Uttam Chand told KNS that barring minor stone pelting incidents, the situation across north Kashmir “remained peaceful”. Clashes also broke out at several places in south Kashmir after Friday congregational prayers. Atleast three youth were injured in Shopian district in the clashes, police said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, south Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told KNS that minor clashes between forces and protesters erupted at several places in south Kashmir.He said that clashes took place in Sangam, Naina, Srigufwara, Bijbehara, Keegam, Kakapora, Tahab and Chodrigund in Pulwama.The senior police officer said that two protesters received minor injuries in legs or back due to pellets in Imam Sahib in Shopian district. “They were treated in local hospitals and are stable now,” he said.On the reports of pushing by police in river Jehlum of two youth from Sangam Bridge on Thursday, the DIG said that the youth were protesting and police chased them away to disperse them. Police did not fire teargas shell or pellets on them, he said.
“One of the youth jumped on the bank of the river on his own. He was injured in his leg and was shifted to Bones and Joints hospital. No policeman pushed him into the river. Had the youth been pushed into the river, his clothes could have been wet. But they were dry when he was rushed to the hospital,” he said.The current protests started a day after the Hizb commander, Burhan Wani was killed in a ‘gunfight’ on July 8 in Bumdoora village of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.At least 50 civilians were killed while more than 2000 civilians have received injuries during the ongoing protests from past 21 days. (KNS)