Two more youth were reported killed in Amirakdal Srinagar and Qazigund Anantnag and dozens of people were injured in the daylong clashes in different parts of Kashmir valley.With these two more civilian deaths the death toll in the ongoing rest has risen to 74.Curfew and shutdown remained imposed on 57th consecutive day in Kashmir, the Valley on Saturday.Reports said the body of a youth yet to be identified was fished out from river Jehlum in Amirakadal area of Srinagar city.Eye witness said the slain youth's body was hit by pellets. Police has taken into custody the body of the slain youth. Police is yet to come out with a statement on the cause of the death of the youth and his identity. Another youth identified as Basit Ahmad Ahangar S/O Gh Mohi-Ud-Din Ahangar R/O Vesoo Qazigund was killed in clashes at Vesoo Qazigund. Local said the youth was hit by pellets and shifted to District Hospital Anantnag where doctors declared him dead. His body was later taken by the people to his ancestral village Vesoo.
Over the day long situation elsewhere in valley a top police official told KNS that curfew and restrictions were imposed in Kashmir today to thwart any possible protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir.Complete shutdown, clashes and protests were reported in several areas throughout the day. At least five persons were injured two of them critically after forces fired pellets on protesting youth at Tukroo village of Shopian district.“Two CRPF vehicles travelling from Kigam Police Station to Tukroo were attacked by protesters at Tukroo with stones after which forces resorted to pellet firing during which five protesters were injured,” reports quoting sources said adding two of them have been referred to Srinagar.Meanwhile, witnesses said that scores of people were injured in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district during the clashes between forces and protesters.
Reports quoting local sources said that forces used tear smoke shells and pellet guns to disperse the youth at Gulshanpora and Bategund area of Tral during which scores of people were injured.Sources said that clashes started after government forces foiled a proposed freedom rally in the area by using force.Witnesses said that over a dozen of people were injured during the clashes that erupted after forces vandalized the venue of a freedom rally in Ranipora area of Anantnag district.A pro-freedom rally was scheduled at Ranipora area of south Kashmir, however forces came early today and allegedly vandalized the venue and started beating people.Following the incident, people took to streets and pelted stones on forces during which over a dozen of people were injured. “One among the injured was shifted to Srinagar’s hospital for treatment,” witnesses said.
Clashes broke out in early in the morning in south Kashmir’s Achabal area when people were marching towards pro-freedom rally venue, scheduled to be held in Rainpora village. “The injured persons were shifted to the hospital for treatment,” reports said.Meanwhile, a pro-freedom rally from Karigam began approaching towards rally venue. However, forces dispersed the protesters by resorting to tear gas canisters.Similarly, a complete shutdown was observed in central Kashmir areas while clashes and protests were reported in several parts as well.In the wee hours of this morning, a protest rally was carried out by the people at Palpora area of central Kashmir’s Srinagar district. Hundreds of people mostly youth took to streets and marched towards main Chowk to protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir.The people were chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar in the late hours of this evening after which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.
Reports of clashes were reported from several other areas including Maisuma, Magarmal Bagh, Sarai Bala and others.Reports said that scores of people were injured in Beerwah town of central Kashmir during the clashes between youth and forces. Reports quoting local sources said that forces used tear smoke shells and pellet guns against the youth at many places in the town.They further said that one protester was hit by a police vehicle (Rakshak) and was immediately referred to B&J hospital Srinagar.In North Kashmir, a complete shutdown was observed by the people while the reports of clashes and protest were reported from several areas throughout the day.Thousands of people assembled in Mohalla Rahim Sahab Sopore where they held Namaz Zuhr.Amid pro-freedom slogans, thousands of people marched throughout the area and were chanting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.Clashes erupted between youth and forces in several north Kashmir areas during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.Reports said that over a dozen of people were injured after clashes erupted in Aavura village of Kupwara in north Kashmir.
Minor clashes were also reported from several north Kashmir areas throughout the day.Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, curfew was lifted from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Baramulla and most parts of Srinagar today.“However, curfew remained in force in the areas falling under the Police Stations of Maisuma, Batamaloo, Khanyar, Safakadal, Nowhatta, Rainawari and M R Gunj,” the statement said.It said that 12 incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Sopore and Kupwara today. “At these places, miscreants assembled on the roads and attempted to disturb the normal traffic and movement of people by pelting stones on vehicles and on police and security force deployments,” the statement said.“Barring these incidents of stray stone pelting, the overall situation remained under control till filing of this report,” the statement said. (KNS)