Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 25: Shutdown, curfew and protests continued in Kashmir for 48th day today but there was no major incident of violence.
Srinagar’s Old City, Maisuma and Batamaloo areas continued to be under curfew. Thousands of security forces personnel were deployed across Srinagar city to foil any protests. All roads leading to the old city were blocked by the concertina wires.
Shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and petrol pumps remained closed across the city. The Government offices and banks witnessed low attendance of employees.
Few private vehicles were seen plying on roads in Lal Chowk area but public transport was completely off the roads.
Clashes, however, broke out in areas this evening after deployment of security forces was withdrawn from interior areas of the city.
A Tata Sumo vehicle was set ablaze by protesters at Nowshehra area of city here. The Sumo was carrying some equipments of cellular company and it was intercepted by protesters at Nowshehra, who torched it.
Strict curfew was imposed in Pulwama town of South Kashmir after yesterday’s violence during which hundreds of security forces personnel were deployed to thwart protests. However, several peaceful protest rallies were held in several villages of Pulwama including at Achhan and Paccharaw Rajpora. These rallies remained mostly peaceful.
Residents in Prichoo village of Pulwama district alleged that the security forces barged into their houses and beat up the inmates. “They damaged household items like washing machines and refrigerators,” said the residents.
Anantnag and Pampore townships of South Kashmir were also under curfew. Thousands of people attended protest rallies at Mattan and Nowpora Qazigund in Anantnag district and at Gadapora in Shopian district.
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora, a youth Asif Ahmed Sheikh of Qazipora was hit by a teargas shell at Qazipora area during clashes. He was shifted to hospital for treatment. The clashes also erupted at Kaloosa Bandipora.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters, Kashmir, six incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Srinagar, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora on Thursday. “These incidents were reported from Lawaypora in Srinagar, Hatlangoo; Warpora in Sopore, Khurhama in Kupwara, Watpora; Kaloosa in Bandipora,” the statement said, adding: “overall situation remained under control across Valley till filing of this report.”
In the meantime, major roads in Kashmir continued to remain blocked as protesters have erected barricades at several places. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 47th day today.
The prepaid mobile services and mobile internet services also remained blocked as precautionary measures to prevent violence.
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