Though the curfew was relaxed for the second consecutive day in Kashmir except few areas, a complete shutdown was observed on 53rdstraight day in Kashmir while clashes and protests were reported throughout the day in various places during which scores of people including a national TV stringer sustained injuries.A top police official told KNS that the curfew remained in force in M R Gunj and Nowhatta areas of old city Srinagar only while following the improvement in the situation, the curfew was lifted in Pulwama as well. “Only two police station areas in Srinagar city including MR Gunj and Nowhatta are under curfew today,” a police officer said.Notably, curfew was relaxed in Kashmir after 51 days on Monday except Pulwama town and the areas falling under the jurisdiction of M R Gunj and Nowhatta.Meanwhile, clashes and protests were reported throughout the day while the youth were seen erecting temporary barricades on roads to thwart the vehicular movement.According to KNS correspondent, clashes erupted between youth and forces in several areas of Srinagar including Batamaloo, Kak Sarai, Kani Kadal and others.
“Forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth in these areas,” witnesses said.Reports said that in Eidgah, scores of youth took to streets and erected temporary barricades on roads in this morning and were not allowing any vehicle to pass through the road.“Forces tried to disperse the youth who in return pelted stones on them,” witnesses said.Besides clashes, a complete shutdown was observed in central Kashmir. All shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained closed.Meanwhile, similar clashes and protests were reported from South Kashmir areas.Reports quoting witnesses said that scores of people sustained injuries in clashes between forces and youth in a village in south Kashmir's Shopian district.Witnesses said that forces vandalized the venue of a scheduled pro-freedom rally in Wathoo village of the district.They also fired teargas shells to foil the 'Wathoo chalo' programme called by the locals triggering clashes during which scores of people including a national TV reporter identified as Aijaz Ahmad sustained injuries.Reports said that he was immediately shifted to the hospital for treatment.Reports said that thousands of people participated in a rally in the village despite the alleged ransacking of the rally venue by the forces.
The participants were carrying banners with messages like ‘No development, no jobs, only freedom from India’, ‘Right to Self-determination’ and ‘Hum kya chahte, Azadi’.The youths carrying Islamic and Pakistani flags were shouting slogans in favour of Kashmir’s freedom.Earlier, forces had raided and vandalized the venue of the rally.Meanwhile, scores of people including an elderly woman were injured after forces ransacked houses in Dooru village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.Reports quoting witnesses and reports said that people took to streets after forces ransacked houses in Mehmoodabad village and beat up the inmates.Forces, they said, fired pellet guns and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters.They said that scores of people, including 60-year-old Sara Bano, were injured in the forces’ action and was shifted to Sub-district hospital Dooru for treatment.Reports said that a rally was held in Qazigund area in south Kashmir despite an earlier raid by forces which vandalized the venue.Witnesses said that the government forces vandalized the venue and set ablaze the tents erected to hold the rally in Panzath village.“When people resisted the move, the forces used pellets and tear gas canisters,” said a witness, adding that over a dozen people were injured.
Later, the rally was held peacefully, he said.
Amid observing complete shutdown, the other areas of South Kashmir also witnessed protests and clashes as per reports.Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in north Kashmir while the clashes and protests were reported from several areas against the civilian killings in Kashmir.Following the call given by the separatist leaderships, scores of women took out a pro-freedom march in Botingoo area of Sopore in north Kashmir.The women protesters were chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and later dispersed peacefully.Meanwhile, a peaceful protest was staged in Hathlangoo area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.People, including women and elderly, took part in the demo and chanted pro-freedom slogans.Reports said that at least ten civilians were injured during the clashes between youth and forces in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.Local sources said that during clashes in the area, several civilians were injured after forces lobbed tear smoke shells and used pellets to disperse the youth.Meanwhile, hundreds of people came out on roads in Ajas, Kaloosa, Potushai and other areas of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.Reports quoting local sources said that hundreds of people including men, women and children came out on roads in Ajas area of the district and held peaceful demonstration.
The people raised pro-freedom, anti-India and anti-army slogans.They alleged that personnel of Rashtriya Rifles had entered Ajas and adjoining Soodnoor areas thrashing and injuring locals and damaging private property worth lakhs of rupees.The reports of clashes and protests were reported from other areas of north Kashmir as well. Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, curfew has been lifted from whole of the Kashmir valley except two Police Stations of Nowhatta and M R Gunj in Srinagar. “Greater movement of private, passenger vehicular traffic and people was observed in major areas of the Valley including Srinagar city today,” the statement said.It said barring few minor stone pelting incidents, the overall situation remained peaceful and under control throughout the Valley till filing of this report.“The stone pelting incidents were reported from Batamaloo and Bag-e-Mehtab in Srinagar, Chankipora and Main Chowk, Sopore, Mehmoodabad in Dooru and Kaloosa in Bandipora where miscreants in their attempts to disturb the situation pelted stones on police and security force deployments,” the statement said. (KNS)