Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 11: As the violent protests continued for the fourth day today in Kashmir since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, the death toll has gone up to 30 with two more people succumbing to injuries and seven more deaths that took place on Saturday reported today.
There were fresh protests and clashes across Kashmir today and around 50 people were injured in security forces action. The total number of injuries has crossed 300 mark including over 100 police men. However, the officials put the death toll at 23.
A protester Aamir Latoo of Zirpora Bijbehera was shot at by security forces at Zirpora Shopian during protests and he is critical. Police said: “At Zirpora Bijbehara militants fired upon police and CRPF personnel deployed for law & order duties which resulted in injuries to three persons who have been hospitalized.”
The protesters continued their attacks on police and other installations today. The protesters set ablaze abandoned police post at Fruitmandi Sopore, police post Lassipora, police post Achan and SOG camp at Litter Pulwama while Langate police post, Kralpora police post and police station Villgam were attacked.
The clashes occurred at Warpora, Langate, Kralgund, Hajin, Kaloosa, Prichoo, Sheeri, Khanpora, Preng, Koil, Fruitmandi Sopore, Popchan, Hyderpora, Baghat Barzulla, Tengpora, Rambagh, Cement Bridge Baramulla, Tahab, Yaripora, Sangam, Bijbehara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Villgam, Shopian, Imamsahib and Gagran.
A Police spokesman in a statement issued here said: “The situation in Valley remained under control today though incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported.
“The incidents of stone pelting were reported from Warpora, Langate, Kralgund, Hajin, Kaloosa, Prichoo, Sheeri, Khanpora, Preng, Koil, Fruitmandi Sopore, Popchan, Hyderpora, Baghat Barzulla, Tengpora, Rambagh, Cement Bridge Baramulla, Tahab, Yaripora, Sangam, Bijbehara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Villgam, Shopian, Imamsahib and Gagran”, the spokesman said.
He added that unruly mobs set on fire police post Fruit Mandi Sopore and police post Litter. “A number of police establishments were also attacked by hooligans. The police and para military personnel deployed exhibited maximum restraint while dealing with the situation.
Meanwhile, at least 15 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured, when suspected militants hurled a hand grenade at Nowhatta in the Shehar-e-Khas this evening.
A CRPF official told media persons that militants hurled a hand grenade towards a CRPF party, when they were about to leave after day-long duty, late this evening. The injured have been shifted to hospital, he added.
At Zirpora, Bijbehara militants fired upon police and CRPF personnel deployed for law & order duties which resulted in injuries to three persons who have been hospitalized”, he said.
In the meanwhile, mobile phone services have been suspended in four districts of South Kashmir since Friday evening as violent protests erupted following killing of Wani in an encounter with security forces. Mobile internet services continued to remain suspended.
Strict restrictions on movement of people continued to be in place in many parts of the Valley including parts of Srinagar city, where the first death in the clashes occurred last evening.
Authorities have strengthened the presence of security forces in vulnerable areas of the city and elsewhere in the Valley to contain the protests, police said.
They said the measures have been taken to avoid any further loss of life or damage to property.
Shops, private offices, business establishments and petrol pumps were shut, while government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance. Public transport was completely off the roads.
Educational institutions in the Valley were closed on account of the ongoing summer vacations, while Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) have postponed the examinations due to the prevailing situation.
Most of the separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, are either in custody or under house arrest.
The separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik called for two day strike on July 12 and 13 across Kashmir against the recent killings.
In the meantime those who died since Friday evening have been identified as Ashraf Dar of Halpora Kokernag, Showkat Ahmad of Hassanpora Bijbehara, Safeer Bhat of Sarigam Aishmuqam, Aamir Khan of Batapora Verinag, Aijaz Thokur of Siligam Aishmuqam, Danish Ayoub Shah of Achabal, Zubair Khanday of Kolepora Qaimoh, Yasmeena Rehman of DH Pora Kulgam, Jahangir Ganai of Hassanpora Bijbehara, Imtiyaz Mandoo of Nandpora Anantnag, Sajad Thokar of Kreeri Utroosa Achabal, Mashook Rather of Kund Qazigund, Altaf Rather Rajpora Pulwama, Irfan Malik of Warwan Pulwama, Muzaffar Hussain Bhat of Kigam Shopian, Fayaz Waza of Nikloora Pulwama, Shabir Mir of Tengpora Bund Srinagar, Aazad Thokar of Pudsoo Shopian, Jahgangir Pandit of Mohanpora Trenz Shopian, Saqib Manzoor of Khundroo Achabal, Bilal Shah of Dooru Anantnag, Abdul Majeed Machi of Arwani Bijbehara, Haseeb Ganai of Khanabal Anantnag, Rashid Kumar of DH Pora, Muneer Pandit of Mohanpora Shopian, Shahid Gulzar of Zainapora Shopian, Feroz mir of Begummilo Kulgam, Mushtaq Dar of Ujroo, Dooru, Anantnag, Shahid Hamid magray of Larnoo Kokernag and Khursheed Mir of Harwat Kulgam.
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