Authorities Monday imposing strict curfew in South Kashmir districts to foil the Anantnag ‘chalo’ of people called by the separatist leadership against the killings of civilians in the ongoing unrest. However, intermittent clashes broke out between protesters and forces in some south Kashmir areas when people tried to march towards Anantnag.A senior administrative official told KNS that besides curfew in Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Ganderbal and others, strict curfew remained in force in South Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts to foil the protest march.Reports said that people from different South Kashmir areas including Tral, Pulwama, Bijbehara tried to march towards Anantnag Lal Chowk where a rally as scheduled.But police and CRPF was deployed in strength to foil the march of the people. Concertina and barbed wires had been placed at the entry points of Anantnag town to stop protesters from reaching to the venue.
However, clashes broke out between the forces and protesters at several of these places. The forces fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters.As per reports several protesters were injured in the clashes. Meanwhile, clashes also erupted in old city of the summer capital between forces and protesters.However, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, told KNS that the situation in south Kashmir remained under “control” barring some intermittent clashes in Kulgam and Anantnag town.“We did not allow people to move to the rally venue,” he said.Meanwhile, strict curfew and communication clampdown continue on 17th day in the Kashmir Valley.Mobile phones and internet services continue to remain suspended from past 10 days in the Valley, nonetheless, only BSNL Broadband and post-paid services are being allowed to operate. Train services also remained suspended.The unrest continues for the 17th day today following the killing of Hizb commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, by forces in Bumdoora village of Kokernag in Anantnag district on July 8. (KNS)