Authorities on Friday imposed strict curfew and restrictions to foil the Eidgah chalo march called by the separatist leadership while one more youth was killed during the protests in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 70.The youth identified as Shakeel Ahmad Ganaie of Chandipora, Pulwama sustained bullet injuries during the clashes between youth and forces in Hall area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district who later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.Reports quoting doctors said the youth was hit by a bullet near his shoulder that had pierced through his heart. “He breathed his last at the SDH Pulwama,” he said.Meanwhile, a top police official told KNS that curfew and restrictions were imposed across the Valley to thwart the Eidgah chalo march called by separatist leadership including Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq and JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik.“A large contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed on roads and had blocked all the entry and exit points of the roads leading towards Eidgah with erecting concertina wires,” witnesses told KNS.
Meanwhile, reports of protests and clashes were reported from several areas during which dozens of civilian’s sustained injuries.As soon as Friday congregational prayers ended in local Masjid at Shopian, clashes erupted between youth and forces in main Chowk Shopian.Protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and soon after it clashes erupted in the locality.Reports said that forces resorted to tear gas and pellet firing during which three persons sustained injuries. “One among the injured persons was hit by pellets and was shifted to Srinagar’s hospital for specialized treatment,” reports quoting doctors at district hospital Shopian said.As per reports three persons were injured during the clashes in Sangam area of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.Reports said that one of the injured youth has been referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment.Reports further said that several protest rallies were also carried out in different areas of South Kashmir.
The protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.Reports said that a women protest rally led by Dukhtaran-e-Millat was also organized in Rahmoo, Gasoo area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.Hundreds of women took participation in the rally and chanted slogans in favour of ‘Azadi’.Meanwhile, scores of people were injured during the clashes between youth and forces in that erupted in Hygam area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.Reports said that after the Friday congregational prayers ended in the locality, a protest rally was organized by the locals, which was intercepted by the forces.Reports said that scores of people were injured in the locality after forces resorted to tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters.Meanwhile, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Bandipora and Kaloosa in north Kashmir after Friday prayers, reports said.Local sources said that a massive rally was held at Bandipora and Kaloosa while forces used tear gas canisters triggering clashes in the areas.A protest was organized in Sadarkoot Bala in Bandipora district.Senior Hurriyat leader Salman Yousuf, who lead the protest addressed a gathering and said they will continue to fight till the goal will not be achieved.
He demanded that the civilian killings should be stopped at earliest. Meanwhile, peaceful rallies were held at Papechan, Saderkote, Ajas and Naidkhai areas of the district.According to KNS correspondent, seven civilian got injured during the clashes between youth and forces in Sopur Naghama area of North Kashmir.The clashes as per witnesses erupted minutes after the Friday congregational prayers ended in the local Masjid.“Seven civilians got injured during the clashes and were shifted to the hospital for treatment,” witnesses said. According to KNS correspondent, Wasim Majnoon Mir, amid strict curfew, restrictions and shutdown, clashes erupted in Kupwara, Kralpora, Lolab and some other areas of this frontier district Kupwara while all the roads connecting with Kupwara town were sealed by the authorities.Witnesses told KNS that forces foiled the attempts of protesters after they hold a protest rally after Friday prayers ended at many places in Kupwara district.“Hundreds of people took to streets and staged pro-freedom slogans. People mostly youth participated in protest rallies in Regipora, Darzipora, Bohipora, Bumhama Drugmulla and Halmatpora and Hyhama areas of Kupwara. However, police intercepted the protesters and foiled their attempt,” witnesses said.
As per KNS correspondent, the groups of youth were raising pro-freedom slogans in Lal Pora Lolab, Kralpora, Trehgam, Mir Molalla, Ganie Mohalla of town Kupwara, Dardsun and other areas of this district.“Protesters were intercepted by large contingents of forces by foiled their protests by resorting to tear smoke shells who in return pelted stone on them during which many persons were injured who were shifted to hospital for treatment.In state’s summer capital, Srinagar, a protest rally was organized by the locals at Chinkral Mohalla Habba Kadal during which pro-freedom slogans were raised.Witnesses said that hundreds of people took participation in the rally which concluded at Baba Demb area.Locals of Rawalpora alleged that the forces ransacked the windowpanes of their residential houses. “Forces barged into their houses and damaged the houses of locals here in the late evening hours,” the residents of the area alleged.According to reports, stone pelting incidents were reported from Mirgund, Nasrullah pora, Adina, Beerwah, Doyun Ropura Chadoora. “Forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who were throwing stone on them,” reports said.
Reports further said that peaceful protests were also reported from Shunglipora, Khag, Charar-e-shareef, Aripanthan, Raithan and Arwah villages of the district during which pro-freedom sl9ogans were raised by the people who participated in the protests.Clashes broke out between youth and forces at many places in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district after Friday prayers.Reports of clashes and protests were reported from Giraj, Kujjar, Fatehpora areas in Ganderbal district after Friday congregational prayers ended however no injury was reported during the clashes.Reports said that peaceful protest rallies were also taken out at Manigam and Kangan.Meanwhile, authorities continued to bar people to offer Friday congregational prayers in central mosques of the valley for seventh straight week.Witnesses said that government forces had cordoned off all the central mosques including historical Jamia Masjid, Srinagar.However, sources in the police department said that measures were taken to foil separatist’s Eidgah march.As per reports congregational prayers were not also allowed in Jamia Masjid Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam. (KNS)