Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: A protester was killed in security forces firing at Rajpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district while authorities foiled Eidgah march of separatists in Srinagar by imposing strict curfew across Srinagar and major towns of the Valley.
A protester, Shakeel Ahmad Ganai of Chandpora Rajpora, was killed when security forces fired at a violent mob in Nikas Aarbal area of Rajpora after Friday prayers.
Reports said that Ganai sustained bullet injury and was shifted to Pulwama District Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll in ongoing violence to 69 including 2 cops.
As soon as the news about the death of the protester spread in the area, hundreds of people took to streets in Rajpora village. The protesters resorted to heavy stone-pelting on security forces who responded by firing teargas shells and pellets. The fresh clashes resulted in injuries to eight persons.
In Srinagar to foil Eidgah march, authorities this morning sealed all the roads leading to Eidgah area and continued with strict curfew across Srinagar and more-strictly in Old City by deploying thousands of police and CRPF personnel. Curfew continued in Batamaloo and Maisuma areas of Civil Lines.
Due to stringent curfew, the Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid could not be offered. Despite rains and curfew, hundreds of people took to streets at Dalgate area of Srinagar and tried to march towards Eidgah. The protests were also reported from several parts of the city. However, police and CRPF deployed at these places foiled them.
Police detained Hurriyat Conference leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani who tried to march towards Eidgah by defying house arrests. Miwaiz who was lodged in Nageen was shifted to Chesmashahi later in the evening. This is for the first time Mirwaiz has been arrested.
Curfew was also imposed in other townships of Valley but protests and clashes broke out at dozens of places as people defied the curfew. In Baramulla town, clashes broke out after Friday prayers. Police fired teargas and used stun grenades to disperse the protesters.
Five persons were injured as clashes broke out at Bandipora town of North Kashmir. The clashes between security forces and protesters also broke out at Watpora Qazipora and Aloosa in Bandipora district. Several protesters were injured in these clashes. Many peaceful protest rallies were also held at several places in the district after Friday prayers.
The violent protests also broke out at Pattan and Palhallan areas of Baramulla district after Friday prayers during which police used teargas and pellets.
Peaceful protests were held at several places in Kupwara district, but violence erupted at Kulangam in Handwara and in Lalpora Lolab where protesters targeted the security forces with stones.
At Vihil Chowdhary Gund area of Shopian in South Kashmir, the protesters resorted to heavy stone-pelting on 62 RR camp of Army. The Army fired in air but no one was hurt. At Baba Mohalla in Shopian, one Waseem Ahmad Tak sustained pellet injuries during clashes between security forces and protesters after Friday prayers.
Clashes broke out at Noorpora, Tral in Pulwama district after security forces cordoned off the village following inputs about the presence of three militants. The locals, however, came out and pelted stones at the security forces and foiled the cordon and search operation. The security forces fired teargas, pellets and restored to aerial firing. The stone pelting clashes also erupted at Chursoo in Awantipora on National Highway.
In the meantime, police appealed the people to stay away from processions to avoid loss of life or injury.
A statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir said: “It has been observed that militants make their presence in public protests and on many occasions resort to hurling of grenades and firing. In one such incident in Pulwama on 24-08-2016, 17 police/security force personnel got injured and stand hospitalized. Similarly such incidents have taken place in recent past at DH Pora, Kulgam and Shopian also. The security forces have exercised maximum restraint and not retaliated to avoid civilian casualties.”
Shops, commercial establishments, education institutions and most of the banks remained closed. The Government offices including Civil Secretariat continued to witness low attendance.
The major roads in Kashmir remained blocked as protesters have erected barricades at several places.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla was disrupted for 49th day today.
The prepaid mobile services and mobile internet services also remained blocked as precautionary measures to prevent violence.
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