Curfew to continue in Pulwama

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 30: The curfew like restrictions that were imposed in Pulwama on Friday continued today and will remain in force tomorrow. The restrictions were imposed after 8 people were injured in security forces’ firing in village Chandigam and Pulwama town following killing of two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Shafat Noor, told Excelsior that curfew like restrictions that were lifted last evening were re-imposed in the morning today following some stray incidents of stone pelting in the town.
The Deputy Commissioner said that there were incidents of stone pelting in Pulwama main Chowk today and the boys were chased away by police. He said that curfew like restrictions were lifted in the evening but added that keeping in view the situation they will be re-imposed on Monday morning for the safety of life and public property following strike call given by separatists.
It may be mentioned here that both the moderate and hardline factions of the Hurriyat Conference have called for a complete strike on Monday (December 31) against security force firing in Pulwama and asked people to protest peacefully demanding withdrawal of armed forces from towns and cities and repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
In the meantime, both the Army and police are claiming that their men did not open fire on the people, who had allegedly blocked the road when injured security men were being evacuated to a hospital on Friday.
Eight persons were injured in security forces’ firing on Friday at Pulwama Chowk and in Chandigam village, as the security forces made their way for vehicles carrying the four injured persons, including two Army officers, who were injured in a gun-battle with two LeT militants at Chandigam village.
A senior Army official said that their personnel were not even present in Pulwama Chowk when the firing took place while police had earlier blamed army for the firing on civilians.