Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 9: A shutdown against the killing of a student in Shopian district early this week paralyzed normal life across Kashmir today during which authorities imposed restrictions in seven police station areas of city here while stone-throwing clashes left three persons injured.
Majority of shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and fuel stations were closed in summer capital here. While public transport was off the roads, the private vehicles were plying normally in city’s Civil Line and uptown areas. Apprehending protests, restrictions were imposed in seven police station areas of downtown city by authorities since morning hours.
Hundreds of security forces personnel were deployed in police station areas falling under Nowhatta, Khanyar, MR Gunj, Safakadal, Rainawari, Maisuma and Kralkhud. The security forces had laid barricades and concertina wires on roads and bridges of the downtown to enforce restrictions. The Friday congregational prayers were disallowed at historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta here by security forces.
Police detained separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik today at Sarai-e-Bala area here. After offering Friday prayers, Malik along with dozens of JKLF supporters staged protests and tried to march towards Lal Chowk but police deployed in the area did not allow the JKLF chief and his supporters to proceed ahead. The police detained Malik and lodged him in nearby police station.
After Malik’s detention, clashes between stone-throwers and security forces broke out near Iqra Masjid at Sarai-e-Bala. The clashes also broke out at Sabzi Mandi in Soura, Chhattabal and at HMT in city areas. Police fired teargas canisters to disperse the stone-throwers. A youth was injured at Chattabal during clashes and he was shifted to SMHS Hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. Minor stone-pelting incidents erupted in downtown areas after lifting of restrictions.
The shutdown was also observed in other parts of Kashmir during which tight security arrangements were in place in southern districts including Shopian. After Friday prayers, clashes broke out at Memandar area of Shopian and in Tahab, Pampore, Main Town and Bellow areas of Pulwama district. Police fired teargas canisters to disperse the stone-throwers and at Pulwama town also resorted to aerial firing.
In Chewa Kalan village of Newa in Pulwama district, stone-throwers targeted Army vehicles after which soldiers opened fire in air. The clashes also erupted at Reshi Bazar area of Anantnag district during which one youth was injured. He was hit by pellets in his eye and was shifted to hospital for treatment. The clashes also broke out at Ajas, Papchan and Hajin areas of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Similar clashes also raged at Sopore town of Baramulla district and in Main Town of Kupwara district. A police Head Constable was injured in Kupwara clashes.
A police spokesman while detailing Friday’s situation said that barring the five stray incidents of stone pelting, situation across the Valley remained peaceful and under control till filing of this report. “After Friday prayers, these stone pelting incidents were reported from Memander, near Mini-Secretariat in Shopian, near Reshmoual Sahib Shrine in Anantnag, Near Jamia Masjid in Kupwara and at Main Chowk Sopore,” he said.
The spokesman said “at these places miscreants in their attempt to disrupt the situation pelted stones on police and security forces deployment”. “The deployment used maximum restraint and chased the miscreants away. Near Reshmoul Sahib a boy identified as Faizan Ahmad Sheikh son of Gul Mohammad a resident of S.K Colony Anantnag received stone injury on his right eye. He was shifted to SMHS, Hospital Srinagar where his condition is said to be stable,” he said.
Due to apprehensions of law and order deterioration, the Banihal-Baramullla train service was suspended. The Friday’s shutdown was called by separatists to protest the killing of Adil Farooq, a B.A. first year student, during stone-pelting clashes that raged at Ganawpora village of Shopian district on Wednesday this week after a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces.
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