Though the curfew continued on 29th consecutive day on Saturday in Kashmir, reports of clashes and protest rallies were reported from several areas while two youth who were killed on Saturday were laid to rest at their native villages.A top police official told KNS that curfew and restrictions have been imposed in Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, parts of Srinagar and in parts of others districts to thwart any possible protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir.Huge contingent of forces have been deployed on roads and streets who have erected concertina wires on roads.Meanwhile, thousands of people mostly youth participated in the funeral prayers of 21-year-old Sameer Ahmad Wani and 22-year old Danish Rasool at their native villages in district Budgam and Baramulla respectively.They were killed after forces opened fire on Friday during the protests in their respective areas.Sameer and Danish, residents of Mullanaroo Takya Farooq in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and Wagoora area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district were laid to rest amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Meanwhile, residents of Jawahar Nagar offered Zuhar (afternoon) prayers on road to mark a protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir.“We offered prayers here as a mark of protest against the civilian killings and ruthless use of force that has injured thousands over the past one month,” reports quoting residents said.Meanwhile, more than a dozen of people including men and women were injured in Chee Village of Anantnag district during the clashes between youth and forces that erupted after forces disrupted all the arrangements made by the locals to hold seminar.
Reports said that people had pegged tent in the vacant land for the seminar but forces disrupted all the arrangements and fired tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who in return pelted stones on them. “Forces fired tear gas canisters and pellets to the youth which led the injury of scores of persons including men and women,” reports said.An official in the health department told KNS that at least 13 persons mostly women have sustained injuries in Chee Village and have been shifted to the District Hospital Anantnag.
He said that “one among the injured person identified as Muhammad Maqbool Dar who had pellet injuries and was critical was referred to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital for specialized treatment,” he said.Reports of protest rallies were reported from several South Kashmir areas. The protesters protesting against the civilian killings in Kashmir raised pro-freedom slogans. Thousands of people participated in a pro-freedom rally organized by the locals in a Pulwama village.Reports said that forces thrashed the participants and ransacked the venue of a rally in Babgam-Chandgam village hours ahead of its scheduled beginning. “At least nine persons were injured during the clashes in the area. Five persons received pellet injuries,” witnesses said.Witnesses said that a peaceful protest rally against the civilian killings in Kashmir was organized in Ratnipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, adding that people shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. People from neighbouring villages, including Puchal, Lajoora, Koil, Gulbagh, Wandakhpora, Hajibal, Lelhar, Samboora, Pahoo, Mohanvij, Gooripora, Padgampora participated in the rally.They condemned the civilian killings and vowed to support the ongoing struggle for resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told KNS that barring few minor stone pelting incidents, the situation across South Kashmir remained peaceful.However, he said that at least five police personnel and seven civilians were injured during the clashes in Chee Village that erupted after they foiled the seminar of the locals, adding that “No one among the injured persons are critical,” he said.Bhat further said that minor clashes also erupted in DH porta after youth pelted stones on Army bunker in the locality while forces dispersed the youth by disbursing tear gas canisters. Protests and clashes were also reported from North Kashmir areas while the authorities in this afternoon imposed restrictions in Pattan area following the injuries of four civilians to thwart any further protests or clashes in the area.Meanwhile, in Wagoora area of North Kashmir’s Baramullah district, the protesters torched an abandoned police post in Wagoora area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.The incident in the area took place a day after a youth identified as Danish Ahmad was killed during protest on Friday.Reports said that the protesters torched an abandoned police post and ransacked it.
Meanwhile, restrictions were imposed in Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after four persons including a girl sustained pellet injuries during the protests in the area, reports said.Reports said that people had assembled in Pattan Chowk to protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir.Witnesses said that forces used teargas canisters and pellet firing to disperse the protests during which protesters which four people including a girl were injured.Reports further added that the injured were shifted to Sub-District Hospital while one among them was shifted to Srinagar’s hospital for specialized treatment. A top police official told KNS that barring few minor clashes, the situation across north Kashmir remained peaceful. “No major clashes were reported from any area throughout the day,” he said.Meanwhile, Majlis-e-Muslim Shoura Committee Kishtwar asked people in the region to observe August 15 as ‘Black Day’ to protest against the civilian killings in the Valley.Imam Umar Mohallah Masjid, Molvi Abdul Qayoom appealed people to observe Aug 15 as ‘Black Day’ to “send a message that people of Kishtwar and Chenab Valley condemn the innocent killings in Kashmir.”Reports said that he also requested the people not to send their children to any function where I-Day would be observed. (KNS)