Though the curfew and restrictions were lifted from the Valley barring three areas falling under the jurisdiction of M R Gunj, Nowhatta and in Pulwama town, the situation in most places including Srinagar and other districts turned ugly as clashes erupted between youth and forces in various areas during which scores of civilians’ sustained injuries.Spokesman of Zonal Police Headquarter, Kashmir, had said that following improvement in the situation, there will be restrictions in Kashmir valley from tomorrow (Monday) except town Pulwama and the areas falling under the jurisdictions of Police station M.R Gunj and Police Station Nowhatta.Notably, curfew was lifted from the Valley after remaining in force for 51 consecutive days here, which was imposed following the protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir that occurred during the protests triggered following the killing of Hizb commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8 in a ‘gunfight’ in Bumdoora village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
However, after the curfew lifted from Valley, clashes erupted in several Srinagar areas and in others areas of South and North Kashmir districts while Lal Chowk and other adjoining areas witnessed a brisk movement of private and government vehicles.Witnesses told KNS that in Srinagar’s Batamaloo area several youth appeared on roads on this morning and erected temporary barricades on roads to disrupt the vehicular movement during which forces tried to disperse the youth triggering clashes.“Forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth,” witnesses said.Reports quoting a local caller from the area said that “Forces tried to enforce curfew but youth defied by throwing stones on them. Azaadi songs were reverberating from every loud speaker in the area.”Witnesses further said that in this afternoon, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Magarmal Bagh area during which forces used several tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.
Noorbagh area of Srinagar also witnessed clashes between agitating youth and forces.
“Clashes were ongoing for hours at Main Chowk Noorbagh during which forces resorted to tear smoke shells to disperse the youth,” local sources told KNS.Clashes were reported in several Srinagar areas including Rainawari, Sekkidafar, Nowpora, Kani Kadal and Saida Kadal.Reports said that forces lathi-charged and thrashed scores of residents in Kane Kadal area of old Srinagar.The locals said that the forces fired tear gas canisters and used pellets to disperse the youth.“Many persons including women have been injured. We were locked inside our homes and nobody was allowed to come out,” they alleged.
Reports quoting locals said that protests had erupted in adjoining Habba Kadal area when forces rushed to Chota Bazar and other localities.“Forces have done innumerable damages; window panes have been broken, cars damaged and what not,” they said. “They want to break our resolve.”Reports said that in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, forces resorted to aerial firing and fired tear gas canisters and pellets to foil a scheduled pro-freedom rally.
Reports quoting local sources said that though the locals had scheduled a pro-freedom rally in Chitroo area of Kremshore near Khan Sahib of Budgam, forces came early morning and imposed curfew.However, people came from adjoining areas to participate in the rally and clashes erupted.They said that youth resorted to intense stone pelting while forces resorted to tear gas and pellet firing.Several people were injured during the clashes between youth and forces in Hangigund area of Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.Reports quoting an eyewitness said that protests were ongoing for hours against the alleged highhandedness of forces.Locals alleged that forces ransacked the windowpanes of several houses and also fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protesting youth in the locality, who in return pelted stones on them during which several people were injured.Meanwhile, clashes erupted between agitating youth and forces in Mazhama area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Reports said that people took to streets to protest against the arrest of a local youth who has been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).However, forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters triggering clashes in the area.Meanwhile, similar clashes and protests were reported in several South Kashmir areas throughout the day.Sources said that two youth sustained injuries during the clashes between youth and forces in Goriwan area of Bijbehara.Sources in Sub-District Hospital told KNS that two youth had sustained pellet injuries and were brought to the hospital for treatment. “One among the youth has been shifted to District Hospital Anantnag while the other is being treated at SDH Bijbehara,” he said.The local sources informed KNS that the clashes between youth and forces erupted at around 02:00 PM. “Forces used tear gas canisters and pellets to disperse the youth,” sources said.Local sources informed that the clashes erupted in Batengoo area of Bjbehara town during which forces resorted to tear smoke shells to disperse the agitating youth.Meanwhile, reports said that the residents of Nowgam-Shahabad came out on roads demanding release of a local youth who was arrested a few days back.Hundreds of men, women and children came out on roads amid pro-freedom slogans and demanded immediate release of a youth who happens to be shopkeeper.
Reports quoting locals identified the detained youth as Farooq Ahmad Laway who was arrested 3-4 days ago.He is running a ready-made clothes shop at Verinag, they said.Reports quoting residents of Liver village near the tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir alleged that army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police barged into their homes and beat up the inmates.They alleged that forces ransacked the houses and beat up the inmates.“They also brought down Pakistan flags, hoisted at various places in the area, including the martyrs’ graveyard,” reports quoting residents said.
Similarly, besides complete shutdown, reports of clashes and protests were reported from several north Kashmir areas throughout the day.Clashes erupted between youth and forces in North Kashmir’s Ajas Bandipora after forces allegedly entered into the houses and beat up the inmates in the locality.According to KNS correspondent, locals alleged that forces entered into their houses and thrashed their inmates.
“Soon after the incident, the people took to streets and staged protest against the highhandedness of forces. Forces tried to disperse the youth by resorting to tear smoke shells who in return pelted stones on them,” witnesses said.Reports said that clashes broke out in north Kashmir’s Bandipora between youth and forces.Witnesses said that people were protesting near Kuloosa Higher Secondary School against the beating of an elderly man allegedly by army late last night.Reports said forces tried to disperse the youth who in return pelted stones on them. Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Sangrama area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after government forces detained four local youth, reports said.Reports quoting witnesses said that the youth were visiting a bank for some transactions in Bangdara Choor area when forces picked them up.The detentions triggered clashes in the area. Reports said that in Ashtangoo area of Bandipora district, protestors asked all the employees of the area “to sit home”. “It was announced by the protesters that no employee will go to his/her office,” reports quoting a local said.Meanwhile, according to KNS correspondent, Naseer Khora, a complete shutdown was observed in Doda region of Chenab Valley against the civilian killings in Kashmir while clashes erupted between youth.
Soon after Adv Babar Hassan Nehru of Doda was arrested by Doda Police and was booked under PSA, Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah had called for complete shutdown in Chenab Valley against his arrest and civilian killings in Kashmir and demanded immediate revoke of PSA slapped on Adv Babar Nehru and Rehmatullah Padder. “Thousands of people assembled at Jamia Masjid Doda after Zuhar (afternoon) prayers and started protest,” witnesses said.Locals said that forces lathi-charged the protesters at Bus Stand without any provocation during which one police personnel and dozens of youth got injured.The protesters as per KNS correspondent alleged that police misbehaved with women folk and used abusive language with them at Nehru Chowk Doda. It is worth to mention here that all the shops and business establishments remained closed throughout the day while traffic was off the roads. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was also observed in Bhaderwah and other major parts of Chenab Valley.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, following improvement in situation, curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir valley this morning except Pulwama town and the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Police station M R Gunj and Police Station Nowhatta.The statement said that minor incidents of stone pelting were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora. “These incidents were reported from Guzarbal, Babademb, Saidpora, Batamaloo, Chanapora in Srinagar, Sangam in Anantnag, Gandwani, Shol Batango in Kulgam, Nadihal Chowk in Sopore, Brambari, Rekhipora in Kupwara and Kaloosa in Bandipora,” the statement said adding that some miscreants in their effort to disturb the situation pelted stones on police and security force deployments in these areas.“Except for these incidents, overall situation remained peaceful and under control throughout the Kashmir valley till filling of this report. Greater movement of traffic and people was observed across the valley including the city Srinagar,” it said. (KNS)