Day 74: Clashes, protests continue, 50 more injured
ABID BASHIR/KHALID GUL
Srinagar/ Anantnag, Publish Date: Sep 21 2016 12:31AM | Updated Date: Sep 21 2016 12:31AM
At least 50 people including some women were injured when forces foiled pro-freedom rallies and beat up inmates at various places in Kashmir on Tuesday, reports and witnesses said. A 20-year-old youth was hit by a bullet in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district during clashes, they said.
SOUTH KASHMIR
30 people were wounded when forces personnel allegedly barged into houses, beat up inmates and damaged property in Kulgam, Tral and Awantipora villages during nocturnal raids, witnesses said. All-women rallies were also held across South Kashmir. Locals in Bogam village of Kulgam alleged that forces raided the area during night and mercilessly thrashed people. “Dozens sustained injuries due to beating by forces,” they said.
The forces, according to locals, also ransacked household goods and damaged property worth crores of rupees and also allegedly took along cash and jewellery.
On Tuesday evening, 12 people had sustained pellet injuries—one in eye—in forces’ action on protesters. People had organized protests against the forces’ excesses in the village.
Reports of ransacking of houses and beating of inmates by forces during night also came in from Dogripora village of Awantipora and Madoora village of Tral in Pulwama district.
“Few people were wounded due to the assault,” they said.
A report said forces personnel ransacked the house of religious cleric and head of Tehreek-I-Fikro Aitiqad, Sarjan Barkati in Reban Yaripora.
Meanwhile, all-women rallies were organized in many South Kashmir areas. Hundreds of women shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans participated in a rally in Bogam village. A similar rally was reportedly held in Gadapora village where a 13-year-old girl Khusboo Jan died of cardiac arrest during clashes yesterday. In Tral, women carrying banners and placards marched from Daru-ul-Uloom to Khankahi Faiz Pana.
Meanwhile, the police crackdown on youth allegedly involved in protests continues across South Kashmir.
Protesters on Tuesday set ablaze the house of a woman Special Police Officer (SPO) at Vehil village in Shopian district, a police spokesman said. He said a motorcycle was also allegedly torched by youths at Batamaloo locality of Srinagar during a protest.
SRINAGAR
The police had imposed strict curbs in old Srinagar areas, witnesses said.
Residents of New Theed Harwan on Srinagar outskirts continued to allege vandalism by forces. “Forces broke windowpanes of dozens of houses besides hurling abuses at the inmates. The police also detained dozens of youth and also beat them to pulp,” they alleged. They said strict curbs were imposed in the area and heavy deployment was made.
Reports from old Srinagar areas said a peaceful rally was held at Nowhatta that passed through a few areas and culminated peacefully. Reports of evening clashes came in from areas including Rainawari, Kathidarwaza, Khanyar, Sekidafar, Saraf Kadal, 90-feet Road at Soura and Hawal.
Clashes were witnessed at Lawaypora, HMT, Eidgah, Palpora, Qamarwari and Chattabal. A torch procession was taken out after Magrhib prayers at Nowgam. Reports of peaceful protests also came in from Soiteng, Lasjan, Hyderpora and Peerbagh. Reports of evening protests also came in from Baghat and Barzulla areas of Srinagar.
NORTH KASHMIR
Reports said women took out a pro-freedom protest march from Jamia Masjid in Old Town Baramulla. However, police from fired scores of teargas shells towards the peaceful protestors, triggering panic among the protesting women. The protesters later marched through different areas and ended the march at Azad Gunj.
Meanwhile, police continued to impose restrictions on bridges connecting Old Town with Civil Lines areas.
Reports from Sopore said forces raided a godown of a Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Bhat and sealed empty fruit bags, triggering protests in the area. Locals said the villagers also caught hold of a CRPF trooper who was giving information to police and CRPF higher ups about the protests taking place in the area.
Reports from Kupwara district said restrictions and complete shutdown was observed in entire district amid heavy deployment of forces. Residents of Panzgam said Army soldiers damaged properties by smashing windowpanes of many residential houses.
Many vehicles were also damaged by Army allegedly during the night raids, reports said.
Meanwhile, locals from Lolab Valley urged the government to “save us from the wrath of men in uniform.” They alleged that forces not only abuse and arrest common people but also harass the female folk.
“Forces arrest youth and set them free only after interrogating them. They catch everyone and torture them,” the residents alleged
Reports from Bandipora district said a youth was hit by a bullet in forces’ firing while at least 12 protestors were injured at Hajin area of the district. The injured youth was identified as Aqib Ahmad Wani, a shopkeeper. He was hit by a bullet during clashes when he was trying to close the shutter of his shop. Aqib received bullet in his arm and was shifted to Hajin Primary Health Centre where doctors referred him to SKIMS Srinagar. Clashes between protesters and forces continued in Hajin town at New Bridge till late evening. Pertinently, huge deployment of Army has been made on the streets of Hajin.
Meanwhile, a Kashmiri journalist was injured when he was travelling from Uri area of North Kashmir. Anees Zargar, who works with Zee Media, got a fracture in his arm. “Some boys threw stones on the car in which I was travelling with few other journalists who had come from New Delhi to cover the Sunday’s Uri attack. I got injured when a stone hit my arm, while I saved my head," Anees said. The incident took place in the HMT area of Srinagar on Srinagar-Baramulla highway, he said.
CENTRAL KASHMIR
Reports from Budgam district said Army has been deployed in many areas of Chadoora. They said forces removed all barricades put in place by protestors on main roads in Aripanthan, Narbal and Beerwah towns. Ganderbal district observed a complete shutdown as shops, private and government offices and business establishments remained closed.
Police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the protestors at Fatehora area. Protests broke out in the locality after police raided the residential house of Nazir Ahmed Ganai, a local youth and detained him in the afternoon. Police sources said Ganai was wanted in a stone-pelting case.
Reports said police also raided residential houses in Saloora and Badergund areas of the district, but nobody was detained.
CHENAB VALLEY TO OBSERVE SHUTDOWN TODAY
Following the call of Kashmir’s joint resistance leadership, the Chenab Valley in Jammu region will observe a complete shutdown on Wednesday. Reports said people of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal in consultation with Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah and with other Muslim organizations of erstwhile district Doda have appealed to the people of Chenab Valley to follow the calendar of Hurriyat and observe a complete shutdown on 21st September.
POLICE VERSION
According to a spokesman of Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation in the Valley remained under control today. “There was no curfew in the valley except the areas under few police stations in Srinagar. Increased movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed across Kashmir during the day. During the past 24 hours, in its efforts to curb the activities of “miscreants/ hooligans”, police arrested 64 people involved in disturbing the situation by damaging civilian vehicles, stopping vehicular traffic and harassing people by placing obstructions on roads,” the spokesman said. “Two incidents of arson were reported from Srinagar and Shopian. In Vehil, Shopian a residential house was set on fire while as in Srinagar at Batamaloo a bike was set on fire by miscreants. The overall situation across Jammu region remained normal and peaceful. Following the improvement in the situation curfew was relaxed from morning till evening hours in Rajouri town during which situation remained normal.”
(With inputs from Altaf Baba, Ghulam Muhammad, Sheikh Nazir) GK
ABID BASHIR/KHALID GUL
Srinagar/ Anantnag, Publish Date: Sep 21 2016 12:31AM | Updated Date: Sep 21 2016 12:31AM
At least 50 people including some women were injured when forces foiled pro-freedom rallies and beat up inmates at various places in Kashmir on Tuesday, reports and witnesses said. A 20-year-old youth was hit by a bullet in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district during clashes, they said.
SOUTH KASHMIR
30 people were wounded when forces personnel allegedly barged into houses, beat up inmates and damaged property in Kulgam, Tral and Awantipora villages during nocturnal raids, witnesses said. All-women rallies were also held across South Kashmir. Locals in Bogam village of Kulgam alleged that forces raided the area during night and mercilessly thrashed people. “Dozens sustained injuries due to beating by forces,” they said.
The forces, according to locals, also ransacked household goods and damaged property worth crores of rupees and also allegedly took along cash and jewellery.
On Tuesday evening, 12 people had sustained pellet injuries—one in eye—in forces’ action on protesters. People had organized protests against the forces’ excesses in the village.
Reports of ransacking of houses and beating of inmates by forces during night also came in from Dogripora village of Awantipora and Madoora village of Tral in Pulwama district.
“Few people were wounded due to the assault,” they said.
A report said forces personnel ransacked the house of religious cleric and head of Tehreek-I-Fikro Aitiqad, Sarjan Barkati in Reban Yaripora.
Meanwhile, all-women rallies were organized in many South Kashmir areas. Hundreds of women shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans participated in a rally in Bogam village. A similar rally was reportedly held in Gadapora village where a 13-year-old girl Khusboo Jan died of cardiac arrest during clashes yesterday. In Tral, women carrying banners and placards marched from Daru-ul-Uloom to Khankahi Faiz Pana.
Meanwhile, the police crackdown on youth allegedly involved in protests continues across South Kashmir.
Protesters on Tuesday set ablaze the house of a woman Special Police Officer (SPO) at Vehil village in Shopian district, a police spokesman said. He said a motorcycle was also allegedly torched by youths at Batamaloo locality of Srinagar during a protest.
SRINAGAR
The police had imposed strict curbs in old Srinagar areas, witnesses said.
Residents of New Theed Harwan on Srinagar outskirts continued to allege vandalism by forces. “Forces broke windowpanes of dozens of houses besides hurling abuses at the inmates. The police also detained dozens of youth and also beat them to pulp,” they alleged. They said strict curbs were imposed in the area and heavy deployment was made.
Reports from old Srinagar areas said a peaceful rally was held at Nowhatta that passed through a few areas and culminated peacefully. Reports of evening clashes came in from areas including Rainawari, Kathidarwaza, Khanyar, Sekidafar, Saraf Kadal, 90-feet Road at Soura and Hawal.
Clashes were witnessed at Lawaypora, HMT, Eidgah, Palpora, Qamarwari and Chattabal. A torch procession was taken out after Magrhib prayers at Nowgam. Reports of peaceful protests also came in from Soiteng, Lasjan, Hyderpora and Peerbagh. Reports of evening protests also came in from Baghat and Barzulla areas of Srinagar.
NORTH KASHMIR
Reports said women took out a pro-freedom protest march from Jamia Masjid in Old Town Baramulla. However, police from fired scores of teargas shells towards the peaceful protestors, triggering panic among the protesting women. The protesters later marched through different areas and ended the march at Azad Gunj.
Meanwhile, police continued to impose restrictions on bridges connecting Old Town with Civil Lines areas.
Reports from Sopore said forces raided a godown of a Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Bhat and sealed empty fruit bags, triggering protests in the area. Locals said the villagers also caught hold of a CRPF trooper who was giving information to police and CRPF higher ups about the protests taking place in the area.
Reports from Kupwara district said restrictions and complete shutdown was observed in entire district amid heavy deployment of forces. Residents of Panzgam said Army soldiers damaged properties by smashing windowpanes of many residential houses.
Many vehicles were also damaged by Army allegedly during the night raids, reports said.
Meanwhile, locals from Lolab Valley urged the government to “save us from the wrath of men in uniform.” They alleged that forces not only abuse and arrest common people but also harass the female folk.
“Forces arrest youth and set them free only after interrogating them. They catch everyone and torture them,” the residents alleged
Reports from Bandipora district said a youth was hit by a bullet in forces’ firing while at least 12 protestors were injured at Hajin area of the district. The injured youth was identified as Aqib Ahmad Wani, a shopkeeper. He was hit by a bullet during clashes when he was trying to close the shutter of his shop. Aqib received bullet in his arm and was shifted to Hajin Primary Health Centre where doctors referred him to SKIMS Srinagar. Clashes between protesters and forces continued in Hajin town at New Bridge till late evening. Pertinently, huge deployment of Army has been made on the streets of Hajin.
Meanwhile, a Kashmiri journalist was injured when he was travelling from Uri area of North Kashmir. Anees Zargar, who works with Zee Media, got a fracture in his arm. “Some boys threw stones on the car in which I was travelling with few other journalists who had come from New Delhi to cover the Sunday’s Uri attack. I got injured when a stone hit my arm, while I saved my head," Anees said. The incident took place in the HMT area of Srinagar on Srinagar-Baramulla highway, he said.
CENTRAL KASHMIR
Reports from Budgam district said Army has been deployed in many areas of Chadoora. They said forces removed all barricades put in place by protestors on main roads in Aripanthan, Narbal and Beerwah towns. Ganderbal district observed a complete shutdown as shops, private and government offices and business establishments remained closed.
Police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the protestors at Fatehora area. Protests broke out in the locality after police raided the residential house of Nazir Ahmed Ganai, a local youth and detained him in the afternoon. Police sources said Ganai was wanted in a stone-pelting case.
Reports said police also raided residential houses in Saloora and Badergund areas of the district, but nobody was detained.
CHENAB VALLEY TO OBSERVE SHUTDOWN TODAY
Following the call of Kashmir’s joint resistance leadership, the Chenab Valley in Jammu region will observe a complete shutdown on Wednesday. Reports said people of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal in consultation with Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhadarwah and with other Muslim organizations of erstwhile district Doda have appealed to the people of Chenab Valley to follow the calendar of Hurriyat and observe a complete shutdown on 21st September.
POLICE VERSION
According to a spokesman of Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation in the Valley remained under control today. “There was no curfew in the valley except the areas under few police stations in Srinagar. Increased movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed across Kashmir during the day. During the past 24 hours, in its efforts to curb the activities of “miscreants/ hooligans”, police arrested 64 people involved in disturbing the situation by damaging civilian vehicles, stopping vehicular traffic and harassing people by placing obstructions on roads,” the spokesman said. “Two incidents of arson were reported from Srinagar and Shopian. In Vehil, Shopian a residential house was set on fire while as in Srinagar at Batamaloo a bike was set on fire by miscreants. The overall situation across Jammu region remained normal and peaceful. Following the improvement in the situation curfew was relaxed from morning till evening hours in Rajouri town during which situation remained normal.”
(With inputs from Altaf Baba, Ghulam Muhammad, Sheikh Nazir) GK
