Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 9: At least 12 protesters died and over 160 were injured as crowds in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, torched buildings and blocked roads and clashed with police and security forces at several places in Kashmir despite curfew like restrictions.
The dead have been identified as Adil Bashir Khan of Verinag, Dooru, Saqib Manzoor Mir of Khundroo Achabal, Aijaz Ahmad Thakur, of Siligam Ashmuqam, Mohammad Ashraf Dar of Halpora Kokernag, Showkat Ahmad Mir of Hassanpora Arwani Bijbehara, Jehangir Ahmad Ganie of Hassanpora Bijbehara, Mohammad Safeer Bhat of Cherigam Pahalgam, Bilal Ahmad Shah of Wagoor Dooru, Shah Danish of Achabal, Azad Hussain of Shopian, Abdul Hamid Mouchi of Arwani and Haseeb Ahmad Ganie of Batpora, Anantnag.
The authorities this evening announced that the curfew like restrictions will be imposed across Kashmir valley tomorrow to prevent further clashes and loss to life and property.
The mobile services in South Kashmir and mobile internet services across Kashmir were shut down by authorities to prevent escalation of violence and curfew like restrictions have been imposed in parts of Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir particularly in South of Srinagar today.
The curfew like restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar including six police stations of Mahraj Gunj, Safa Kadal, Khanyar, Rainawari, Zadibal and Nowhatta. Curfew like restrictions have also been imposed in Pulwama and Anantnag districts of South Kashmir to prevent any trouble.
In these areas, gun totting police and para-military CRPF were patrolling in riot gear to foil any protests. They had also blocked the roads and lanes with iron barricades and concertina wires.
The Valley observed complete shutdown today with shops and business establishments, Government offices and banks closed and traffic was off the roads. The roads looked deserted as people preferred to stay indoors.
Large number of people attended the funeral prayers of Burhan Wani at Tral. The protesters turned violent in Tral and torched Tehsil and Sub District Magistrate’s office. Wani’s body was buried in the afternoon in Tral. The funeral prayers of Wani in absentia were also held at many places across Kashmir.
As the National Highway, was blocked due to protests at many places in South Kashmir, the authorities closed it for traffic for the safety of the commuters.
The authorities also suspended train services between Banihal and Baramulla to prevent damage to the train and Railway property.
The Board of School Education (BOSE) has announced the postponement of 11th class examinations which were scheduled to be held today. Central University of Kashmir (CUK) has also postponed all examinations scheduled for today, said a spokesman. The BOSE said fresh dates for examination will be announced later.
The Public Service Commission postponed the written test of Medical Officer and Medical Officer Ayurvedic that were scheduled for tomorrow on 10.07.2016.
Giving details of the violence in Kashmir that led to death and destruction across Kashmir, Additional Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, CID, S M Sahai told a press conference that security forces had a very difficult day today in the wake of yesterday’s incident in which three militants were killed.
“The funerals became an issue today and in the background of the funerals, there were several attempts at various locations particularly on security forces establishments, police stations, other Government buildings, houses of politicians, army camps which were attacked at many isolated locations also which led to a very critical situation in which there have been eight casualties today,” said Sahai.
The police officer said that out of eight persons, one person died due to drowning while seven others died in “retaliatory” action by police and security forces. However, three more succumbed to injuries later in the evening.
Sahai said there was also a militant attack in Pulwama district of South Kashmir but the security forces warded that off. “Shortwhile ago, there was a militant attack at DPL (District Police Lines) Pulwama which has been warded off. The camps at Sangam, Larnoo, Seer, Gopalpora, Minority camp Mattan, Kokernag, Dooru and Janglat Mandi were also attacked by the protestors,” he said and added that the militants were trying to “superimpose their attacks” on public protests.
The police officer said a mob attacked police station Damhal Hanjipora and it was burnt down. “The weapons that were snatched from the police station were used to fire upon at the police personnel of the police station. We did try to show restraint. They took 20 of our policemen hostage, three of them got bullet injuries while three of them are still missing,” he said.
Sahai said 96 security forces personnel and around 30 civilians were injured in the clashes during the day so far. However, sources said that 65 protesters were injured in the clashes.
The police official said the incidents of arson and stone-pelting took place on Achabal police station, in Kokernag, where a house of the MLA was burnt down, and Kund, Qazigund, on a minority camp in Vessu. “Last night, we have had a very extensive attack on the Haal minority camp. The CRPF came under attack there and some of the abandoned houses were also set on fire,” he said. House of PDP MLA from Kokernag, Abdul Rahim Rather was torched by mob during the day.
Sahai said there were attempts to enter the security forces’ camps at many places.
“Violent incidents of arson and stone-pelting were also reported from Awantipora, Pulwama, Bomai, Sopore, Baramulla, Palhallan, Delina, Gantamullah, Sheeri, Kreeri, Lalpora, Bandipora, Narbal, Lasjan, Barzulla, Nowgam, Tengpora, Batamaloo. “At many places, the mobs forcibly tried to enter the security force
establishments. In the BSF camp in Bandipora, a picket was set on fire. Some of the security installations in CRPF camps were set on fire,” he said.
The police officer said the killings were unfortunate and it was sad that the lives were lost. “Looking at all the multiple attacks that took place at the various locations, the consequence of which is unfortunate. We are very sad that these lives were lost, but there is a particular requirement that the camps could not have been over run and the arms and ammunition taken away the way it happened in Damhal Hanjipora. Apart from that there is report of about 96 security personnel and the police personnel who have been injured in the attempt to tackle the situation,” he said.
Sahai said the situation in some segments, especially in South Kashmir, is “bad”. “Well, the situation in certain segments is bad and it is mostly confined to South Kashmir. In North, though there were some incidents of attacks on security forces locations, but it is not that critical. In Srinagar also, we have had some incidents but it has been mostly under control,” he said.
The police officer said it becomes very difficult when such kind of attacks take place. “The non-lethal weaponry that was available in 2010, in fact it is more advanced now, we are using that but yes, we must appreciate that we have a (Amarnath) Yatra going on right now and there is also an attempt to super impose militant attacks on public demonstrations,” he said.
Sahai appealed the people to not let their children come out on roads. “We have tried to impose curfew in the parts of the city today just to ensure that these kind of casualties do not take place,” he said.
The police officer said seeing the protests today, the security forces would try to prepare to contain them. “If you look at what happened, if you see the epicenter of the activity, which is in Tral, there it has remained fairly quiet. Tral has behaved all right. The difficulty has come in isolated pockets on the fringes. All these incidents, if you notice, are not in the main area where you normally expect trouble… Now that we are aware of what has happened, we will definitely try to prepare for it,” he said.
Referring to the encounter in which Burhan and two of his associates were killed, Sahai said the first attempt was to arrest the militants as they were “our children”. “Our attempt always is to ensure that if the militants can be arrested, they be arrested. You should be aware that two of our personnel sustained injuries during the encounter, after which the killing of the militants took place. So, the first attempt was to ensure that if we could arrest them and it is not only in the case of Burhan, it would be universally true for any attempt that is made. The idea is not to kill them, they are our children. We would like to bring them back. But when you have a situation where the fire fight starts, then the consequences of it would be like this,” he said.
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