Curfew and restrictions continued on 35th day consecutive day on Friday in the Valley while the authorities once again blocked cellular services on Thursday late night thereby leaving Valley inhabitants to suffer.A top police official told KNS that the curfew and restrictions remained in force in Kulgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, in part of Srinagar and in other parts of districts to thwart any possible protests after Friday congregational prayers against the civilian killings in Kashmir. Witnesses said that huge contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed on roads and streets. “They have erected concertina wires on the roads,” witnesses said.A pro-freedom rally against the civilian killings was carried out by the residents of Chota Bazar. However forces deployed in the area didn’t allow them to march.
Locals told KNS that the residents of three areas including Chota Bazar, Guru Bazar and Shaheed Gunj had planned to march towards Lal Chowk. “As soonas the Friday congregational prayers ended in the nearby Masjid’s, thousands of people amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans tried to march towards Lal Chowk. However, forces intercepted them and didn’t allow them to march,” local sources said. Locals said that peaceful protests were also held in Habba Kadal’s Chinkral Mohalla and Kral Khud area. “The protesters who assembled outside the Masjid’s after Friday congregational prayers were raising pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans and later dispersed peacefully,” witnesses said.According to KNS correspondent, as soon as the Friday congregational prayers ended in Iqra Masjid Sarai Bala, the people assembled outside the Masjid and held pro-freedom protest. “The protesters raised slogans against the India and later dispersed peacefully,” witnesses told KNS.
Protest as per KNS correspondent was also held in Charar-e-Shareef against the civilian killings in Kashmir. The protesters were chanting slogans in favour of ‘Azadi’ and later dispersed peacefully.Earlier, Hurriyat leader Ghulam Muhammad Hubi addressed the people in the locality and appealed people to follow the protest programmes strictly. “I appeal people mostly youth not to give any chance to forces to open fire and follow the protest programmes of leadership strictly,” he said.Clashes erupted between youth and forces in Qaimouh area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.“Forces lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who were throwing stones on them,” local source said.Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), South Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told KNS that barring minor stone pelting incident in Qaimouh and protests in some areas, the situation across South Kashmir remained peaceful.
Meanwhile, at least 18 youth sustained i juries during the clashes between youth and forces in Langate and Gana Pora area that erupted soon after the Fridaycongregational prayers ended in the local Masjid’s.“The injured youth were shifted to hospital for treatment,” witnesses said.Clashes erupted between youth and forces in Ajar and Nowpora areas of North Kashmir's Bandipora district.Reports said that youth clashed with forces who were deployed near Ranger Khan area.Reports quoting witnesses said that youth pelted stones on forces which resorted to heavy teargas shelling to disperse them. Clashes were also erupted from Hajin area where youth assembled in Main town Hajin.Meanwhile, a large procession was carried out from Jamia Masjid to Nowpora chowk.Later, the procession culminated peacefully at Gulshan Chowk.Peaceful protests were also staged in Ajas, Papchan, Ayathmulla, Kehnusa, Aloosa and Pazalpore areas of the district.
Meanwhile, scores of people were injured after forces fired pellets into pro-freedom rallies in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.Reports quoting witnesses said that thousands of people took out a pro-freedom rally from Jamia Qadeem and marched towards Chanakhan amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.However, forces fired teargas shells and pellets as the protesters marched ahead.The injured were shifted to SDH Sopore, report said.Similar rallies were staged in Bomai, Warpora, Tujjara nd Hadipora areas of the district.Meanwhile, the authorities in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday snapped cellular services once again in the Valle, which added inconvenience to the people.The cellular services were snapped at around 11:20 PM.
However, a top police official informed KNS that the services will be restored on August 15 after 40:00 PM.It is second time since past one that the cellular services were blocked in Kashmir.The authorities had snapped mobile internet facility in the entire Valley on July 9. While the post-paid services were resumed on July 26, the incoming call facility on the prepaid numbers was restored a day later.However, the outgoing facility on such numbers continued to remain barred. Mobile internet also continued to remain snapped for the 35th day on Friday. Only BSNL postpaid phones and landlines are working.Meanwhile, a top police official told KNS that barring few stone pelting incidents, the situation in north Kashmir remained under control. (KNS)