Amid complete shutdown on 61st straight day in Kashmir on Wednesday, the clashes and protests were reported throughout the day while an elderly man in South Kashmir suffered cardiac arrest due to the sound of teargas shells. As per police sources, following the improvement in situation, the authorities decided to lift the curfew and restrictions in Kashmir while the residents of a few areas said that the curfew and restrictions continued to remain in force in their areas and the inhabitants were not allowed to come out from their residential houses.
Meanwhile, according to KNS correspondent, Zahoor Andrabi, an elderly man in Chawalgam village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district died of cardiac arrest after forces fired a tear gas canister to disperse the protesters in the area.Locals told KNS that Abdul Gani Wani, son of Muhammad Sultan Wani, 72 died after he suffered cardiac arrest due to the sound of tear gas shell during the clashes in the area.They said that during the clashes in the area, forces used tear gas canister which exploded outside the house of Wani due to which he suffered cardiac arrest and died on spot.The residents said that clashes erupted in the area after forces arrested scores of youth when the protesters were marching towards Mirhama village. “Forces used several tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters,” locals said.
They said that people had called for ‘Mirhama chalo’ and the protesters from Chawalgam tried to march towards Mirhama. “However, forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters triggering clashes in the area during which scores of people sustained injuries who were shifted to the hospital for treatment,” they said, adding that forces ransacked scores of residential houses in the locality as well.Meanwhile, as per KNS correspondent, in Mirhama area of the district at least 50 civilians were injured during the clashes between youth and forces in the area that triggered after forces foiled a scheduled pro-freedom rally in the village.Witnesses said that the injured were shifted to the hospital for treatment. “During the clashes in the area, forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth. However, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyala School, a Government of India run school was gutted after forces lobbed tear gas canisters inside the premises of the school.They said that the canister was fired to disperse the protesters in the compound of the school. “Clashes erupted in the area during which at least 50 people were injured,” they said, adding that a school van also caught fire.Meanwhile, reports said that forces attempted to foil a pro-freedom rally in Bewora village in Bijbehara area of South Kashmir, resulting in the clashes.“At least four people have sustained injuries in the clashes,” local sources said.
Reports said that forces fired tear gas shells and tried to enter into village but, after resistance from people, they failed.Meanwhile, locals said that a pro-freedom rally was scheduled to be held in Murran area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district today. “However, forces raided the rally venue and used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters during which scores of people were injured,” they said.Locals said that the injured were shifted to the hospital for treatment while two among the injured were referred to Srinagar’s hospital for specialized treatment.They informed that the people had called for “Murran Chalo” today but the rally was foiled by the forces by resorting to tear gas canisters.Witnesses said that the clashes were ongoing in the area till late hours.Meanwhile, thousands of people participated in a pro-freedom rally, which was organized by the people in Kumdalan village of South Kashmir's Shopian district.The protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans during the rally.Meanwhile, besides clashes and protests in several other areas, a complete shutdown was observed across South Kashmir today.Similarly, amid complete shutdown in central Kashmir areas, clashes and protests were reported in several areas throughout the day.
According to KNS correspondent, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Batamaloo area of Srinagar during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.Meanwhile, after the arrests of six youth in Padshahi Bagh area of Srinagar, the residents held demonstration and demanded immediate release of the arrested youth.Locals informed KNS that forces raided their residential houses during the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday and arrested at least six youth.The protesters were raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans during the protests and marched towards the main Chowk where they blocked the raod for around half an hour.They (protesters) as per KNS correspondent later dispersed peacefully.Meanwhile, reports said that a pro-freedom rally was held in Burzhama area of Srinagar in which thousands of people participated.Reports said that people from adjoining areas including Batpora, Burzhama, Danihama, Theed, Harwan, Khimber, Chatterhama and other villages participated.Meanwhile, at least three persons, including a woman, sustained injuries during the clashes between youth and forces in Fatehpora area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
Eyewitnesses and reports said that forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters, triggering clashes during which three persons, including a woman, sustained minor injuries and were taken to District Hospital Ganderbal for treatment.However, some of the old city areas continued to remain under curfew today. Locals said that they were not allowed to move outside throughout the day.Meanwhile, in North Kashmir districts, clashes and protests were reported today while a complete shutdown was observed throughout the day.According to KNS correspondent, Waseem Majnoon Mir, curfew like restrictions remained in force today in Kupwara town while scores of people sustained injuries during the clashes in Kupwara district.
Witnesses said that the clashes erupted between youth and forces in Dardsun Kralpora and Lalpora Lolab village of Kupwara district during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth due to which scores of people were injured.The youth as per witnesses were shifted to the hospital for treatment.Block Medical Officer (BMO) Kupwara, Dr Fareed told KNS that at least eight injured youth were brought to the hospital today while four among them were referred to SMHS hospital for advanced treatment. “The four injured youth had received pellet injuries in eyes,” he said.He said that the other four injured youth were discharged after they were treated.Meanwhile, all the shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained closed throughout the day while the reports of minor clashes were reported from other areas as well.Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir today said that barring some stray stone pelting incidents, the overall situation remained under control throughout the valley till filing of this report.
“Four incidents of stone pelting were reported from Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Kupwara,” he said adding at these places, miscreants assembled on the roads and attempted to disturb the normal traffic and movement of people by pelting stones on vehicles, police and security force deployments.He said at Kulgam about miscreants 300 assembled at Mirhama and pelted stones on police and security force deployments and set ablaze Jawahar Navodaya Vidyala School which suffered damages. “Miscreants also hurled a petrol bomb on State Rest House, Chawalgam which resulted in fire and partial damages to the rest house,” he said and added that the miscreants also pelted stones on the police and security forces at this place. (KNS)