Kashmir valley continued to reel under curfew and restrictions for the 49th consecutive day in the wake of violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani. Curfew continued to be in force in five police station areas of downtown city and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown, a police official said. In south Kashmir, curfew was imposed in Pulwama district, while it continued in Anantnag, Kulgam districts as well on Friday. Curfew and restrictions also remained in force in North Kashmir’s restive area’s including Sopore, Pattan, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara.Separatists had called for Azadi March to Eidgah Srinagar while authorities had sealed the entire Eidgah erecting nakas and mobile bunkers at different points on the Old City roads. Reports said that strict curfew remained in forces in Old Srinagar city while authorities once again barred people from offering mandatory Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar. As many as 70 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with government forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.Reports from Srinagar said that amid curfew and rains protest marches were taken out from different areas of the city. Large number of people took out a protest march in Chinkral Mohalla Habbakadal that culminated peacefully. Amid pro-freedom slogans the youth denounced the recent civilian killings. '
The protesters were stopped by police when they tried to march towards Eidgah. A pro-freedom procession was also taken out at Chotta Bazar Srinagar while in Dalgate area people also took out a peaceful march.Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani was detained after he came out of residence and marched towards Eidgah as part of programme issued by the joint resistance leadership. A spokesman said that police prevented Geelani from marching ahead and took him into custody.
Similarly, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained after he came out of residence and marched towards Eidgah as part of the joint resistance program of the ‘Eidgah Chalo’.“Chairman APHC Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained outside his Nigeen residence as soon as he tried to march towards the‘Eidgah,” said a spokesman. Police also detained Hurriyat (M) leader Masroor Ansari from his home to prevent him from leading a march to Eidgah in Srinagar. A police party raided the leader's home at around noon on Friday and took him away, said a spokesman. Ansari was scheduled to take out a rally after Friday prayers. He was lodged at police station Safa Kadal.
President J&K Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian and senior Hurriyat leader Agha Syed Hassan Almosvi Alsafvi was detained by police while he was leading a march towards Eidgah Srinagar. Reports said that Aga Hasan was arrested after he tried to break the police cordon. A spokesperson said that Aga Hasan has been under house detention from past 49 days.
Clashes between protesters and government forces erupted in Bandipora and Kaloosa in north Kashmir after Friday prayers, reports said. Local sources said that a massive rally was held at Bandipora which was tear gased by government forces resulting in the clashes. Same kind of rally was held at Kaloosa which met the same fate at the hands of government forces.However, peaceful rallies were held at Papechan, Saderkote, Ajas and Naidkhai areas of the district. Several persons were injured in clashes that erupted in Hygam area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The clashes erupted after government forces intercepted a rally of hundreds of people from Hygam and its adjoining villages heading towards the highway. Clashes also erupted at Warpora Sopore.
Over a dozen protesters were injured after government resorted to tear-smoke shelling in Pattan town of Baramulla district. Eyewitnesses told CNS that thousands of people from Ussan,Goshbugh,offered Friday prayers and held a pro-freedom rally after the prayers. Locals alleged that police resorted to unprovoked pellet firing injuring many youth. Reports added that hundreds of people held a protest march at Tappar Bala and blocked Srinagar-Muzafarabad highway. Protest march was also carried out in Hanjiwera Pattan. Reports said that at least three youth were shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar after they were hit by pellets in eyes in Palhalan area of Pattan town.Reports said that clashes between protesters and government forces erupted in different parts of Handwara town including Kulangam, Hargam, Hospital road and Talri Bridge. Government forces used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters. In Azad Ganj Baramulla youth hoisted green flags amid pro-freedom slogans.
Amid curfew and restrictions, protests and clashes erupted in various parts of South Kashmir. Army reportedly resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters who attacked their camp at Chowdhary Gund area of the district. Witnesses said that at least five persons were injured during the clashes. In Pulwama, clashes broke out in Rohmu, Nehama, Newa and other areas. The effigy of Chief Minister Mehbooba was set on fire in Rohmu Pulwama.Security Forces resorted to aerial firing to disperse gathering at Noorpora Tral who pelted stones on them when the Forces cordoned off the area to flush out ‘hiding’ militants. Eyewitnesses said that Security Forces after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in Noorpora cordoned off the area. However, reports said that a large number of people including women hit to road and attacked security forces with stones, forcing the later to fire some shots in air. Protesters reportedly took out a procession while eyewitnesses said that forces left the area without conducting the searches in the area.Stone pelting incidents were also reported from Khudwani and Ziyarat Road Kulgam.A police official said that some stone-pelting incidents occurred in some parts of Valley. He said that the situation remained relatively peaceful across Kashmir. (CNS)