Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 12: Around 400 people were injured across Kashmir in fresh violence after Friday prayers amid strict curfew and shutdown even as authorities snapped mobile networks to prevent the flare up.
Authorities imposed strict curfew in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir and blocked mobile services except State owned BSNL post paid services to prevent violence after Friday prayers. The mobile communications were blocked last evening while mobile internet services are already shutdown for last one month.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel were deployed across Srinagar including in Old City, Maisuma, Batamaloo, Dalgate, Lal Chowk and Natipora areas since early morning to foil protests.
Security forces sealed roads with iron barricades and concertina wires and enforced curfew strictly so as to avoid major congregations on the occasion of Friday. They were patrolling the streets and movement of people and traffic was completely restricted in the curfew bound areas.
For the fifth day, the vehicles on Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Baramulla-Kupwara and Srinagar-Bandipora were also seen plying in the morning but it was later blocked at several places due to protesters despite heavy deployment of security forces.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 35th day today and major roads remained shut due to blockades by protesters.
The shops, business establishments and most of the Government offices remained shut with only some shops selling essentials opened in the early morning and late evening and people were seen busy in buying essentials. However, in the evening the police went to the market places where shops opened in the evening and asked them to close down them for next three days.
No prayers were allowed in majority of the Masjids in curfew bound areas of Srinagar including Jamia Masjid Srinagar. This is for the fifth consecutive week that Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid were not allowed due to curfew. However, in Civil Lines area the Friday prayers were held peacefully. No Friday prayers were allowed in several sensitive areas of South, North and Central Kashmir.
Despite curfew and clampdown, the protesters defied curfew and restrictions at over 50 places across Kashmir and clashed with Police and CRPF leading to injuries to around 400 people including police and CRPF personnel.
In Srinagar, people took to streets at Kaka Sarai, Rainawari, Baghe-e-Mehtab areas held protests. The protesters were intercepted by forces leading to violent clashes. Police used teargas, pepper gas and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters. The clashes also erupted in parts of Old City soon after security deployment was withdrawn this evening. Around 2 dozen persons were injured in these clashes.
Massive clashes erupted at Khag, Beerwah, Narbal, Peth Kanihama and Ompora areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district after Friday prayers during which police used teargas and pellet guns to disperse the protesters. At least 100 protesters were reported to be injured in the clashes but all were stable.
Worst clashes were reported from Beerwa town in Budgam where protesters converged in the township from nearby villages leading to ding dong battles between protesters that continued till evening. Eighty protesters have suffered injuries with majority of them pellet injuries. Thirteen injured were referred to Srinagar for treatment. However, condition of the majority of them is stable.
At least one dozen protesters were injured in Narbal area of Budgam in the outskirts of Srinagar. The protests started after Friday prayers and continued till evening during which one dozen persons were injured as security forces fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
The clashes also erupted at Kojer area of Ganderbal district after Friday prayers. Police fired tear smoke shells to disperse them.
In North Kashmir over 230 people including security forces personnel were injured in clashes that broke out after the Friday prayers today. Protesters at these places threw stones at police and CRPF and security forces retaliated by resorting to aerial firing, pellet firing and lobbed tear smoke shells at protesters,
Clashes broke out at Palhalan, Kunzar, Dobiwan, Kanli Bagh, Khwaja Bagh, Cement Bridge, Azad Gunj and DC Office bridge in Baramulla Police district during which 45 protesters and 12 security force personnel were injured. The protesters attacked Police Training Centre at Sheeri in Baramulla.
Clashes broke out at Chankhan, Sangrama, Zanigheer, Warpora, Tujjar, Wogub and Chejhama Rafiabad areas of Police district Sopore during which 30 protesters and 12 security force personnel were injured.
Clashes broke out at Kralpora, Trehgam, Bumhama, Panzigam, Vilgam, Goripora, Cherkote, Lalpora, Sogam and Nagri area of Police district Kupwara during which 35 protesters and 14 security force personnel were injured.
Clashes broke out at Main town Handwara, Kralgund and Langate areas of Police district Handwara during which 25 protesters and 20 security force personnel were injured.
Clashes broke out at Hajjan, Naidkhai, Kuloosa and Ajas areas of Police district Bandipora during which 25 protesters and 19 security force personnel were injured.
In South Kashmir, a woman, Hasina was injured when a teargas shell hit her at Newa in Pulwama during protests. The violent clashes between police and protesters also erupted at Bijbehera, Anantnag, Tral, Qazigund, Kulgam and several other places. Besides, peaceful protest rallies were taken out from scores of places after Friday prayers. Over 50 people were injured in these clashes in South Kashmir.
A police spokesman said here: “More than three dozen incidents of stone pelting were reported from different districts of the Valley including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora. Curfew was imposed in Srinagar and in the towns of Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag, Shopian, Baramulla and Sopore.”
”After Friday prayers miscreants assembled at various places and tried to disrupt the vehicular movement. At most of the places the miscreants started pelting stones on moving vehicles, police and security force deployments. The deployments exercised utmost restraint despite severe provocations at a number of places. Many police/security force men have been reported injured during these clashes”, the spokesman said.
“At Arhama Ganderbal miscreants assembled on road and pelted stones on security forces. While tackling the situation six persons were injured. At Dooru Tangmarg about 300-400 miscreants assembled on road and pelted stones on police and security forces. Two persons were injured, one of whom was shifted to Srinagar,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “At Uttrsoo Anantnag, miscreants pelted stones on police and security forces. While dispersing the mob, four persons suffered minor injuries who were discharged after first aid from the hospital.”
At least six persons were injured when police used force to foil sit in protest of MLA Abdul Rashid Sheikh in Srinagar today. Despite curfew and strict restrictions, dozens of workers of the MLA assembled in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar and started the sit-in. However, Police swung into action and used force to disperse them. Several of them including the MLA were detained.
Follow our WhatsApp channel