Curfew, restrictions and shutdown continued on the 73rd straight day in Kashmir while the clashes and protests were reported in several parts of Kashmir throughout the day during which scores of people sustained injuries.A top police official told KNS that curfew and restrictions were imposed in Vehil village of Shopian, its adjacent areas, Pulwama, Baramulla and in parts of Srinagar in view of the march called by the separatist leadership.Meanwhile, witnesses said that large contingent of forces were deployed on roads and streets.
“They had erected concertina wires on roads as well,” witnesses told KNS.Notably, the separatist leadership had called for a march to the three districts Baramulla (in north Kashmir), Srinagar (in central Kashmir) and Pulwama (in south Kashmir) today.Besides, curfew and restrictions, all the shops, business establishments, schools and petrol pumps continued to remain closed, while traffic was thin on riads throughout the day.Meanwhile, reports of clashes and protests were reported from various areas of Kashmir throughout the day during which scores of people sustained injuries.Scores of protesters were injured in south Kashmir’s Shopian district after clashes erupted between the forces and protesters.
Reports quoting local sources said that as soon as people started gathering at the freedom rally venue at Vehil, village defying curfew, forces swung into action and fired tear smoke canisters and pellets to disperse them.“Soon after the clashes started, forces fired countless tear smoke shells ti dis[perse the youth. A local government school building in the Chatwattan area caught fire however the cause of fire was not immediately known,” local sources said.They said that scores of injured were shifted to PHCs like Harmain, Sedaw and Kachdora as they were not allowed to reach the district hospital due to strict curfew.
However, reports said that DH Shopian had received eight injured and referred two of them to Srinagar for specialized treatment.Reports quoting locals alleged that forces personnel destroyed fruits worth lakhs of rupees in orchards as clashes spread.Reports of clashes and protests were also reported from several South Kashmir areas during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth who were pelting stones on them.
Meanwhile in Central Kashmir, a complete shutdown was observed besides clashes and protests were reported from several areas during the day.
Reports of minor clashes were reported from several Srinagar areas including Habba Kadal, Batamaloo, Khanyar and others during the day. However, forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.Meanwhile, forces ransacked scores of residential houses and smashed parked vehicles in Kremshore village of Budgam district overnight and arrested four youths. “Forces also fired pellets on protesters resulting in injuries to several people,” reports wuoting locals of the locality said.Locals said that forces conducted nocturnal raids in Kremshore village and ransacked houses. They alleged that forces damaged scores of houses and parked vehicles.
“People in large number came on roads after announcements were made from local Masjid’s. However they were dispersed by forces after they used pellets during which scores of people were also injured,” a local said.He said that forces also arrested four people of the village. “They beat whosoever came in their way,” he said.Meanwhile, in North Kashmir districts, a complete shutdown was observed. Shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, schools and others remained closed while traffic was thin on roads.Scores of people were injured after forces fired pellets on the people at Khan pora area of Baramulla.The residents alleged that no clashes were ongoing in the area but forces suddenly came and damaged the transform in the area triggering clashes. “Forces used tear gas canisters and pellets to disperse the youth who were throwing stones on them during which scores of people were injured,” they said.They said that the clashes were ongoing till late evening hours.According to KNS correspondent, Waseem Majnoon, curfew like restrictions was imposed in parts of Kupwara district. “Large contingent of forces including police and CRPF men were deployed at several places in Kupwara town and other towns as well,” witnesses said.
However, Kupwara witnessed a complete shutdown in response to the strike call over the civilian killings. All shops were closed and traffic movement was badly affected. “Schools, shops, Banks, business establishments and petrol pumps were closed due to the strike. The roads in Kupwara wore a deserted look as public and private transport remained off the roads,” he said.The shutdown was also observed in other areas of district Kupwara including Kulangam, Handwara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Lolab, Langate and Main Town Kupwara. Meanwhile, reports said that a peaceful pro-freedom rally was organized in Botingoo village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last night.Hundreds of people mostly youth participated in the rally that began from main Chowk Botingoo and ended at Highway road. The participants were raising slogans in favor of ‘Azadi’ and against India. It is worth to mention here that the mobile telephony, except the postpaid connections of BSNL, and the mobile internet services continued to remain snapped across the Valley.
Meanwhile, according to the spokesman of the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, barring stray stone pelting incidents in Sopore and Shopian, overall situation remained under control today across the valley. “Increased vehicular traffic and movement of people was observed on roads between various districts and towns of the valley including Srinagar city,” the spokesman added.The spokesman said that restriction under section 144 CrPC remained in force in the valley. However, curfew was imposed under the areas of some police stations in Srinagar city and Vehil area of Shopian District only.The spokesman said that continuing with its sustained drive against the trouble mongers involved in disturbing the situation in the valley by placing obstructions on roads/lanes, damaging civilian vehicles and shops, police arrested 45 miscreants during past 24 hours.
The spokesman said that a group of miscreants with the intentions of creating disturbance assembled at village Vehil in District Shopian and set on fire a Middle school building. “Police and security force deployment reached the spot to deal with the situation where miscreants resorted to stone pelting. In order to disperse the miscreants little force was used which caused injures to two miscreants/stone pelters. In this incident some police/security personnel also got injured,” the spokesman added. (KNS)