Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: Curfew, shutdown and protests continued in Kashmir valley for 45th day since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were deployed in Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas today for law and order duty.
The curfew remained imposed in parts of Kashmir while it was relaxed in parts of Srinagar amid heavy deployment of security forces in these areas to prevent any violence.
All the entry and exit points leading to Old City where a protester was killed last evening during clashes were sealed off by security forces with concertina wires, barricades and mobile bunkers.
Last evening, Irfan Ahmad Malik was killed after he was hit by a teargas shell fired at Malarata in Old City’s Bohri Kadal area. He was a resident of Fateh Kadal area of downtown Srinagar and died at SMHS hospital.
The killing sparked off massive protests in Old City as thousands took to streets this morning. Large number of people assembled at his residence this evening and carried out a protest march.
The curfew was also imposed in Maisuma and Batamaloo areas of civil lines but the restrictions were eased in Lal Chowk in the day hours till 5 pm. The BSF was deployed in Lal Chowk and its adjoining area since morning to maintain law and order. The BSF, which was deployed in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir in anti-militancy operation was withdrawn in year 2004 and was replaced by CRPF.
Besides curfew and protests, the shutdown continued across Kashmir Valley. The shops, commercial establishments, education institutions and majority of the banks remained closed. The Government offices including Civil Secretariat continue to witness low attendance.
The train services continue to remain disrupted since July 9 between Banihal and Baramulla. The pre-paid mobile services and mobile internet also remained blocked in Kashmir valley since last one month.
The curfew continued in Pulwama, Shopian and Anantnag townships while in other areas security forces were heavily deployed to maintain the law and order.
Protests erupted in Fateh Kadal area of downtown against the killing of youth. Scores of men, women and children while defying curfew took to streets and staged protests. Reports said that clashes erupted in several areas of Old City after curfew was lifted by forces.
At least 15 people were injured when police and security forces foiled a protest rally at Ganowpora in Shopian in South Kashmir today.
An official spokesman said that curfew was relaxed in the jurisdiction of police stations of uptown in Srinagar from 9 am to 5 pm including Ram Munshi Bag, Kothi Bagh, Raj Bagh, Sadder, Nowgam, Shaheed Gunj, Karan Nagar, Shergarhi and Parimpora. “Curfew was also relaxed in Soura, Lal Bazar and Nigeen police stations’ jurisdiction. During the relaxation hours no untoward incident was reported, markets remained open and traffic was normal on roads”, the spokesman said.
“Situation remained peaceful in Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Bandipore, Kupwara, Baramulla, however, 5 incidents of stone pelting were reported from Budgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Sopore. These incidents were reported from Hyderpora in Budgam, Salli in Anantnag, Wathu, Gonapora in Shopian and Gulabad in Sopore”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “The situation across the Kashmir valley remained under control and no other untoward incident was reported. The movement of traffic on national highway and other roads remained normal.”
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