Protests, shutdown continue on 52nd day of
Published at August 29, 2016 07:24:23 Rising Kashmir News Srinagar, Aug 29:
• Many injured in fresh pellet firing • Thousands attend rally in Batengoo, Anantnag• Night curfew imposed in Srinagar• Minor incidents of stone pelting reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora: PoliceAuthorities on Monday lifted curfew from Kashmir valley except Pulwama town and two police station areas in Srinagar after 51 days while protests and shutdown continued for the 52nd consecutive day. The curbs were, however, re-imposed in some parts after clashes between youth and cops during which many people sustained pellet injuries.
A police spokesman said following improvement in situation, curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir this morning. “However, it remained under force in Pulwama town and the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Police station M R Gunj and Police Station Nowhatta”.
After lifting of curfew, there was an increased movement of private vehicles in some areas of the city today. The attendance in government offices and banks improved. However, shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutions remained closed due to shutdown called by separatists.
Kashmir has been under curfew, restrictions and separatists sponsored shutdown since July 9, a day after 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in encounter with forces.
At least 71 people including two policemen have been killed and thousands others injured in the ongoing unrest in the Valley.
After curfew was lifted, youth took to roads at Batamaloo, Noorbagh, Safa Kadal, Habba Kadal, Nawapora and other areas of city. Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protestors were demanding an end to civilian killings. The cops fired tear smoke shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protestors, who pelted stones on them.
The cops fired pellets on protestors in Kani-Kadal area after the people took to roads to protest against highhandedness of the force personnel. Many people sustained pellet injuries and were hospitalised.
People alleged that the cops had barged into their houses, ransacked the household goods, beat the inmates and smashes the window and glasspanes of many houses and parked vehicles.
After the clashes, authorities enforced curfew and restrictions in Batamaloo and some downtown areas.
A pro-freedom rally was taken out by people at Kremshore area of Budgam district. However, police and CRPF men intercepted the rally and fired tear smoke shells and pellets towards the protestors. Over a dozen people suffered injuries in the forces action. Some of the injured were hit by pellets and shifted to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital for specialized treatment.
Many people were also injured in clashes with force personnel in Hangigund area of Chadoora in Budgam district. The protests were triggered after people came out on roads to protest highhandedness of force personnel.
They alleged that force personnel had barged into residential houses and ransacked the household goods.
A girl was injured after being hit by a tear gas shell fired by cops to disperse women protestors in Fatehpora, Ganderbal area.
According to locals, police raided a house in Rakh i Harran in Fatehpora area and arrested a youth.
“Women in large numbers came out and protested against the cops. They demanded release of the arrested youth. The cops fired tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the women protestors. An 18 year old girl was hit by tear gas shell. She was hospitalised”.
The clashes also broke out between youth and cops at Barsoo area of Ganderbal district.
The police men enforced tough from 7 pm in city centre Lal Chowk and adjoining areas. The cops had placed barricades and concertina wires on the roads to restrict movement of the people.
SOUTH KASHMIR
Hundreds of people were marching towards Gandwini village in Kulgam district to participate in a pro-freedom rally, when they were intercepted by force personnel near Matergam on Nihama-D H Pora road and not allowed to move forward.
The cops fired pellets and tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors, who fought pitched battles with them. At least 10 people were injured in the forces action.
In Achabal area of Anantnag, people came out in large numbers to protest arrest of youth by police.
Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protestors were demanding immediate release of the arrested youth and end to civilian killings.
Police fired tear gas shells and pellets to disperse the protestors. At least five people suffered injuries in the forces firing.
At least two persons were injured badly after they were thrashed by SOG and army personnel in Liver village of Pahalgam in Anantnag district.
The locals alleged that forces barged in residential house in the dead of the night and apart from thrashing the inmates including women, elderly people and children, they ransacked the houses.
The villagers erected barricades on roads leading towards the village to prevent any movement of vehicles. At one place, a temporary wall was built on the middle of the road, making it
impossible for any vehicle to pass.
The villagers said they have erected barricades to save themselves from the wrath of the force personnel.
In Belov village of Pulwama, where after a peaceful pro-freedom rally was taken by people on Sunday, force personnel conducted nocturnal raids, ransacked the household goods and beat inmates.
“We were ruthlessly beaten by the force personnel besides ransacking our household goods. They had come with an intent to ransack and harass and that’s exactly what they did,” a local told Rising Kashmir over phone.
He said many people fled the village in the dead of the night and took shelter in the neighboring villages.
Forces used force to foil at least two pro-freedom rallies in Pulwama including one at Aglad-Pakherpora.
Clashes erupted in Arham village of Verinag in Anantnag district after force personnel did not allow people to take out a rally. The clashes continued throughout the day.
However, people in thousands attended a pro-freedom rally at Shoal village of Battengoo in Anantnag district. The participants dispersed off peacefully.
In Anantnag, Traders and Manufacturers Association staged protest demonstration today.
“We are ready to incur losses for the fight for Azadi. There should be no turning back now,” the members of the association said.
NORTH KASHMIR
Eyewitnesses said group of youth near Kaloosa bridge in Bandipora district staged a protest demonstration and chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. The protestors pelted stones on the force personnel, who fired tear smoke shells to disperse them.
At least three youth sustained injuries in the clashes.
Meanwhile, residents of Watpora village in Bandipora staged protest demonstration against the force personnel for beating an elderly man during night.
The protesters said Muhammad Shafi Bhat (55), son of Late Muhammad Ismail of Bhat Mohalla Bala Watpora was hit with gun butts when he came out of his house at around12:30 am to attend nature’s call.
A female in the locality said that they were threatened by force personnel in uniform if they raised alarm.
The protesters later dispersed off peacefully when Assistant Commissioner Revenue Masrat Hashim assured them that the matter would be investigated and culprits punished.
A protest rally was also taken out in main town Bandipora at evening from Gulshan Chowk to Nowpora chowk. The protestors dispersed off peacefully.
Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital, Dr Nazir Chaudhary, said at least seven people, who had received injuries today, were admitted at the tertiary care hospital.
“We continued to receive the injured at the hospital today,” he said.
POLICE SPEAKS
A police spokesman said minor incidents of stone pelting were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora.
“These incidents were reported from Guzarbal, Babademb, Saidpora, Batamaloo, Chanapora in Srinagar, Sangam in Anantnag, Gandwani, Shol Batango in Kulgam, Nadihal Chowk in
Sopore, Brambari, Rekhipora in Kupwara and Kaloosa in Bandipora,” he said adding that some miscreants in their effort to disturb the situation pelted stones on police and security deployments in these areas.
The spokesman said except for these incidents, overall situation remained peaceful and under control throughout the Kashmir valley.
He said greater movement of traffic and people was observed across the valley including the city Srinagar.
Meanwhile, mobile internet continued to remain suspended while the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred.
