Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 20: Police today arrested two persons on charges of damaging Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Natipora in Srinagar yesterday while the shutdown paralysed life in Kashmir for 104th day today.
Some youth entered into J&K Bank Branch Badshah Nagar, Natipora and damaged CCTV screen, LED, glass panes and other articles in the bank. Police registered a case (FIR number 182/2016 under Sections 336, 427, 452) and during investigations identified two youth as Imran Mir son of Haji Mohammad Mir, resident of Ganderbal at present Badshah Nagar Chanapora and Shafat Ashiq Najar son of Ashiq Hussain, a resident of Iram lane, Chanapora who were involved in the case among others. Police have launched manhunt to nab other involved people.
In the meantime, shutdown continued across Kashmir during which clashes erupted at few places including in Nowhatta area of Srinagar
Hundreds of security force personnel were deployed in five Police Station areas of Srinagar’s Old City – MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kada, Rainawari and Khanyar – and Habba Kadal and Maisuma areas since early morning to prevent protests and violence. However, civilian movement was allowed in these areas.
In Civil Line and uptown areas of the Srinagar, extra-ordinary movement of private transport and pedestrians was seen since early morning but shops, commercial establishments and educational institutes were closed. The vendors had, however, set up their stalls at Batamaloo, Lal Chowk, Dalgate, Sonwar, Jehangir Chowk, Exhibition Crossing and Jawahar Nagar.
In the evening, markets across Srinagar including Lal Chowk opened and witnessed huge rush of people and there were traffic jams at many places including Civil Line areas.
Clashes erupted in the evening in Nowhatta area of Old City after the withdrawal of security forces. Hundreds of locals took to streets and hold protests. As protesters started marching towards Rajouri Kadal but police intercepted them and fired teargas leading to clashes. The clashes in the area continued for nearly an hour and later they spread to adjoining areas.
The clashes were also reported from Kangan area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Police said here that no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley today. The statement said that with constant improvement in the situation coupled with increase in traffic and pedestrian movement in Srinagar and other main towns, the overall situation remained peaceful in the Valley.
“Greater people and vehicular movement was observed in Srinagar city as was in other parts of the Valley. Shops and other business establishments were open and markets were thronged by shoppers. However, a stray incident of stone pelting was reported from Brath in Sopore,” it said.
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