March to UN foiled : clashes, protests in Valley parts

Eidgah boy hit by pellets critical , no Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 07-Oct-2016

Authorities on Friday foiled a march to the office of United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in summer capital that was called by joint resistance leadership here by imposing curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir Valley. During the day, protests and clashes erupted at many places in which scores of people, one of them critically, injured.In wake of the March call to UNMOGIP Sonwar, the police and paramilitary forces had sealed all the roads leading to Sonwar with razor wires and erected barricades. The forces strictly imposed the restrictions in Lal Chowk, Sonwar and Old City areas.The authorities for the 13th consecutive week disallowed Friday prayers at historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. According to locals, the force personnel deployed at Nowhatta and in adjoining areas showed sticks to all those who tried to come out of their houses for offering prayers.

Meanwhile, protest and clashes erupted at dozens of places in Kashmir Valley during which police used teargas, pepper gas and pellets to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to scores. A 12 year old boy, Junaid Ahmad, was critically injured after forces fired pellets on him at Saidapora in Eidgah during protests. The injured boy according to sources was rushed to SKIMS Soura where he is battling for his life.The summer capital areas including Barzulla, Rawalpora, Chanapora and Safakadal witnessed massive protests and clashes after Friday prayers. According to eyewitnesses, scores of youths clashed with government forces at all these places during which forces resorted to massive teargas and pellet firing. Many persons were injured while an unidentified protester was hit by a teargas canister on his head at Chanapora. 

Late evening reports said that clashes also erupted in many areas of Old City.

The restrictions were also imposed in other major towns of central, south and north Kashmir. As per reports, the protests after Friday prayers also erupted in all other districts of Valley. Reports of clashes poured in from Hajin, Bandipora, Palhallan, Hanjewara Pattan, Sopore, Tahab, Kakapora Pulwama, Arihal Rohmoo, Pulwama Town, Sallar Pahalgam, Beerwah and Kulgam. Several persons sustained injuries during these clashes.Police in a statement issued here said that during the day eleven incidents of stone pelting were reported from Srinagar, Baramulla and Sopore. “The situation remained under control and there was no report of any untoward incident,” the statement said. It added that continuing with its efforts to neutralize the activities of the “miscreants and hooligans”, 56 persons found involved in different crimes of creating public disorder have been arrested during the last 24 hours.(GNS)