After three days of relaxation, the authorities on Friday once again imposed curfew and restrictions in Kashmir to foil the ‘Tehsil level Azadi march’ called by the joint separatist leadership. Scores of people were injured in clashes in different parts of Kashmir valley.Meanwhile complete shutdown was observed in Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Gandoh areas of Chenab valley today.A top police official told KNS that curfew and restrictions were once again imposed today to foil the ‘Azadi march’ called by the joint separatist leadership. However, independent sources and locals of different areas of Kashmir valley said that scores of people were injured in protests and clashes in different parts of South Kashmir, north Kashmir and central Kashmir districts.Eye witness said thousands of people attended the funeral of Danish Sultan, 12 of Palpora whose body was fished out from the Jhelum earlier and later laid to rest in martyrs’ grave yard (Mazar-e-Shuhada) Eidgah. As thousands of slogan shouting rotesters marched from Palpora to Eidgah the protesters were teargassed at Noorbagh but forces did not stop from marching to Eidgah. Reports received Thursday evening as said that danish jumped in Jhelum to save himself from being caught by forces who were chasing him and other protestors in Palpora-Parimpora area in late evening hours Thursday.
Following the death of Danish, clashes erupted at Barthana Parimpora area today. Eyewitnesses said scores of protesters were injured in the clashes and four injured men were immediately shifted to JVC hospital for treatment. Reports also said a youth was also arrested during the clashes in the locality.Meanwhile, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Kak Sarai area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar district after forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters who were protesting against the arrest of youth in the locality. Locals said scores of youth were arrested on Thursday in Zampi Kadal and Chattabal area here. As soon as the Friday congregational prayers ended in the local Masjid in Chattabal area, the protesters including men, women and youth took to streets and raised pro-freedom slogans to seek the immediate release of the arrested youth.Eye Witnesses said forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters who in return pelted stones on them. Clashes also in Shivpora area of Srinagar as forces tried to disperse the youth who were protesting against the civilian killings in different parts of Kashmir valley.
According to KNS correspondent, clashes broke out in Pantha Chowk area after forces fired tear gas canisters on protesters in the locality. A protest rally was carried out by the locals in the area while forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters triggering clashes.Witnesses said that clashes also broke out in Lasjan area during which forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth who were pelting stones on them.Meanwhile reports said that pro-freedom protests erupted in Srinagar’s Barzulla area in the afternoon hours. Eye witness said angry protesters fought pitched battles with police and paramilitaries. Similar protests were also reported from Soura area of old Srinagar city. Eye witness said as protestors raising pro-freedom slogans were stopped by forces from moving ahea,police and CRPF men fired several tear gas canisters to disperse them but youths continued protests in the areas. Reports of complete shutdown, clashes and protests were also coming from north Kashmir districts.Scores of people were reported injured in clashes in some parts of North Kashmir.
According to KNS correspondent, Bhat Zahoor, clashes erupted between youth and forces in several areas of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district during which scores of youth sustained injuries.After Friday congregational prayers ended in the local Masjid’s here, clashes erupted between youth and forces in several areas including Ajar, main town, Papchan, Khumina and Hajin area of Bandipora district.Witnesses said that in main town, four youth sustained injuries during the clashes in the area and one of the injured persons is reported suffered a pellet injury in his eye. “He was referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment,” Witness said.They said that forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the women protesters in Khumina area of the district. Six youth were reported to have sustained injuries in the area. Meanwhile, reports said that a pro-freedom rally was carried out from Jamia Masjid after congregational Friday prayers in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. People from Nusoo, Hajam Mohalla and Nibripora also took out a protest rally and marched towards Gulshan Chowk. Reports said that peaceful protest rallies were also carried out in Ajar, Ayathmulla, Kaloosa, Ashtengoo, Aloosa, Kehnusa, Papchan, Aloosa, Hajin and Naidkhai, main town, Aloosa, Ajas, Ashtangoo, Ahiemsharief, Papchan, Hajin, Naidkhi, saderkoot Bala and Nuso areas of the district.
Meanwhile, after offering Friday congregational prayers in a small ground adjacent to Eidgah in Palhallan area, hundreds of people tried to march towards Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway but they were stopped by forces. Forces used pellets and tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters during which scores of people sustained minor injuries.Youth also took to streets in Baramulla town, Pattan, Singhpora, Kunzar, Tangmarg and Bangdara Choor localities after Friday prayers. Several protesters were reported to have sustained injured in the clashes.Meanwhile, in Nadihal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, where a youth was killed after forces opened fire on Wednesday, thousands of people staged a protest demonstration.Meanwhile, reports coming from Trehgam area of Kupwara said that curfew was lifted from the area around 12:30 PM. “After congregational Friday prayers ended, hundreds of people came out in main Chowk Trehgam and pro-freedom protests were held,’ a local from the area said. The protestors later dispersed off peacefully.Meanwhile, clashes broke out in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district after protesters attacked a police station. Eye witness said youth pelted stones on police station Sumbal and were engaged in pitches battles with the government forces for hours together.
Similarly scores of youth were reported injured in several areas of South Kashmir districts. One person was injured during the clashes in Goriwan area of Bijbehara town of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Sources in Sub-district Hospital SDH Bijbehara told KNS that a youth sustained pellet injury during the clashes in Goriwan and was shifted to the Srinagar’s hospital for treatment.Reports said clashes also erupted in several areas of Pulwama during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth. Local sources said that as soon as the Friday congregation ended in the local Masjid’s here, the youth took to streets and staged protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir. Subsequently, police and paramilitaries later lashed with the youth in several areas of Pulwama district. However, forces used tear gas canisters to disperse them. Similar reports of clashes were reported from Shopian areas as well. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Gandoh areas of Jammu region today to protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir valley.
Reports said that shops, business establishments and some private schools reamed closed. The shutdown call was given by Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah, Majlis-e-Shoura Kishtwar and Anjuman-e-Islamia Gandoh. Meanwhile, according to Zonal Police Headquarters, Kashmir, curfew was imposed in Srinagar, towns of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Baramulla today.In a statement issued here, a spokesman of the Zonal Police Headquarters said that 35 stone pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar, Sopore, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kulgam and Kupwara till the filing of this report. “At these places, after Friday prayers miscreants assembled on the roads and pelted stones on police and security force deployments,” he said. The spokesman said that last evening some unknown persons set ablaze a Vocational Training Center at Watergam in the jurisdiction of Police Station Dangiwacha, Sopore, resulting in complete damage to the structure. “Sopore police has registered a case in this regard,” he said. (KNS)