Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 5: Three protesters were killed and over 350 including over 100 police and para-military personnel were injured in fresh violence that broke out across Kashmir today as security forces foiled separatist march to Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar amid curfew.
The authorities imposed strict curfew in most parts of Kashmir to foil a separatist march to Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar and detained Huriyat Conference chairmen, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq outside their residences in Hyderpora and Nageen respectively this afternoon.
One person was killed and over a dozen were injured as security forces opened fire on protesters who attacked police and security forces at Nagam in Chadoora area of Budgam district today. Protesters in large numbers gathered at Nagam and were marching towards Chadoora. They were intercepted by police and CRPF but the protesters pelted stones at them leading to clashes.
Police and CRPF fired tearsmoke and pellets to disperse the protesters in which over a dozen protesters were injured and one Maqbool Wagay of Loolipora Charar-e-Shareef was killed.
The protesters later defied curfew and reached Chadoora where they attacked police station with stones. The clashes were going on till late in the evening. Around two dozen including police and CRPF men were injured in these clashes.
Protests also broke out in Khan Sahib area of district Budgam today in which one protester was killed and scores were injured after security forces opened fire.
Large number of protesters from Taki Farooq, Kaitch, Kremshore, Rawalpora and Beerwa assembled at Khan Sahib and attacked Teshil Office, SDPO office and house of local MLA Hakim Mohammad Yaseen.
The protesters pelted stones at Tehsil Office and SDPO’s office and torched a scooter there. They later gathered outside the house of MLA Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and pelted stones at it. The house suffered damage in the stone pelting.
Security forces fired tearsmoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesters but they gave stiff resistance to police and CRPF. Dozens of protesters were injured in the security forces action and one among them Zahoor Ahmad of Takiya Farooq was brought dead to SMHS hospital this evening.
Shortly after Zahoor’s body was brought out of the SMHS hospital, hundreds of people already present there took his body in a possession. Amid protests, police fired teargas at protesters outside SMHS hospital leading to clashes.
One Danish Rasool Mir son of Ghulam Rasool Mir of Kreeri Wagoora in Sopore area of Baramulla district was killed in security forces firing at Batpora Sopore today. Reports said that a large mob attacked a CRPF camp with stones and clashes continued for hours during which security forces fired pellets killing Mir and dozens were also injured.
Elsewhere, over 350 including security men were injured in clashes across Kashmir today and the death toll in the violence has gone up to 55 including two cops while over 6500 were injured in the violence after the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8.
Earlier in the morning, all roads leading to Hazratbal shrine were closed with concertina wire to foil the march of separatists. The separatists had asked people to march towards Hazratbal Shrine here ahead of Friday prayers but authorities imposed strict curfew in almost all 10 districts of Valley. Since early morning, thousands of police and CRPF men were deployed all across Srinagar and all roads leading to Hazratbal shrine.
First time in recent years, the Friday prayers were disallowed at Hazratbal as security forces had sealed all the gates of the shrine. The Friday congregation prayers at Jamia Masjid were also disallowed for the fourth consecutive week.
A large procession was taken out from Habbak Naseem Bagh by the people of the area and its surroundings but it was intercepted by police and CRPF as they were marching towards Hazratbal. Security forces fired teargas shells and pepper grenades to disperse the protesters. The protesters pelted stones at them. The clashes in the area continued for more than an hour.
The protesters also attacked MoS Health, Asiea Naqash’s house at Habbak with stones in which some window panes were broken. They also attacked a petrol pump owned by Naqash. The processions towards Hazratbal were also intercepted at Nawakadal, Soura, Natipora, Bagh-e-Mehtab. At least a dozen persons were injured at these places.
The clashes erupted at Natipora and Nowgam and Ikhrajpora in Rajbagha area of Srinagar. The stone-throwing clashes erupted across Old City soon after security forces were withdrawn in the evening.
Protests and clashes were reported across North Kashmir in which around 200 persons were injured today. The clashes erupted at Lalpora, Zurhama, Tekkipora, Kralgund, Langate, Kupwara town, Trehgam, Natnoosa areas of Kupwara district; Tangmarg, Kunzer, Ferozpora, Jamia Masjid Sopore, Chankhan, Amar Garh Sopore, Main Chowk Sopore, Rahim Chowk Sopore, Palhalan, Kreeri, Azad Gung and cement bridge in Baramulla town of district Baramulla and Hajan, Ajas, Aloosa, Kaloosa and Papchan areas of Bandipora district.
At Zurhama and Kralpora in district Kupwara 25, 40 and 25 protesters were injured in the clashes respectively. At Bandipora, Sopore, Baramulla and Palhalan 35, 77, 25 and 25 protesters were injured in clashes respectively.
In Sopore, Bandipora, Kralgund, Kupwara, Baramulla and Hajjan 35, 20 32, 25, 10 and 10 police and CRPF men were injured respectively.
Peaceful protests were also reported from Kanispora Baramulla, Old town Baramulla, Lalad Sopore and Chankhan Sopore in North Kashmir.
Meanwhile, clashes and protest rallies were reported from several areas of South Kashmir districts today. At least one dozen were injured during the clashes between youth and forces in the Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Clashes also erupted between protesters and security forces in Imam Sahib area of Shopian in which around one dozen persons were injured. Reports said that security forces tried to disperse protesters, triggering clashes.
Protests and clashes were reported from Fateh Pora area of district Anantnag while protest rallies were also carried out in Eidgah Ashaji Pora and Dialgam area as well.
The Valley observed shutdown, protests and curfew for 28th day today. Schools and colleges remained closed. The attendance in the Government offices was negligible in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir valley.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 28th day today and major roads remained shut.
The shops, business establishments and most of the banks remained shut with only some shops selling essentials opened in the early morning and late evening and people were seen busy in buying essentials.
The prepaid cell phone services and mobile internet continues to remain blocked across Valley and only BSNL broad-band internet services are functional.
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