Curfew and restrictions continued on the 31st consecutive day on Monday in the Valley while protests and clashes were reported from several areas during which scores of people were injured.A top police official told KNS that curfew and restrictions remained in force in several districts including Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, in parts of Srinagar and in other areas to thwart any possible protests against the civilian killings in Kashmir.
Witnesses said that a large contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed on roads and streets and had erected concertina wires at most entry and exit points in several localities.Clashes erupted between youth and forces in Dalgate area after forces fired tear smoke shells to the people who were scheduled to offer Asr prayers in the main Chowk. “Forces dispersed the nimazis by disbursing tear gas canisters, who in return pelted stone on them,” witnesses said.
Meanwhile, at least 8 civilians including 4 women sustained injuries after forces fired pellets to disperse the protesters.“Four women, one middle-aged man and three youth sustained pellet injuries during the protests in Bijbehara. Among the injured persons six have been referred to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital,” sources in the Sub District Hospital Bijbehara told KNS.Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in the Valley against the civilian killings in Kashmir.All the schools, shops, business establishments and petrol pumps remained closed while the vehicular movement was thin on roads throughout the dayMeanwhile, Kashmir’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Javaid Mutaba Gilani in a statement issued to KNS said that except for the five minor incidents of stone pelting by miscreants on police deployments in Anantnag, Sopore and Bandipora Districts, overall situation in the Valley remained normal and under control.
“Although restrictions under section 144/CrPC remained in force in the Valley, curfew was imposed in some parts of Srinagar and Anantnag town only,” he said.He said that a group of miscreants assembled near village Simthan on National Highway and tried to block the National Highway by placing wooden logs and obstacles to restrict the vehicular traffic movement. “The miscreants also smashed the panes of some vehicles and tried to stop the vehicles/trucks carrying essential commodities,” he said.He said that the police party headed by SHO Bijbehara visited the spot to ensure smooth vehicular movement on National Highway, following which the miscreants resorted to stone pelting upon the police/security forces due to which 12 police/security personnel were injured.“In order to clear the National Highway and ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic, the Police/Security forces were compelled to use mild force, which caused injuries to eight miscreants/stone pelters. Two of them were referred to SMHS/SKIMS for further treatment, and the condition of both is stable,” he said. (KNS)