Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 27: A paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan sustained minor burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack in Safakadal area of Srinagar during a shutdown called by separatists that affected normal life across Kashmir today. Security forces in Qazigund area of Kulgam district arrested three car-borne persons along with two grenades and cash.
A CRPF spokesman told Excelsior that some persons lobbed a petrol bomb towards a CRPF party deployed for law and order duty near Malik Sahab area of Safa Kadal this evening and one of their jawans, whose identity could not be ascertained yet, came under it. “He suffered minor burn injuries in his hand and was given first aid at the moment. He is fine now,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, life in Kashmir was affected today due to the shutdown called by separatists against the “plight of prisoners” who are lodged in local and outside jails during which restrictions were imposed in downtown areas of the summer capital here.
The shutdown was jointly called by three separatist leaders – Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. Due to the strike call, most of the shops, commercial establishments and fuel stations were closed in city here. The educational institutes were shut and private and public offices recorded thin attendance. The public transport was partially affected while private vehicles were plying normally.
Hundreds of security personnel including police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal and Rainawari since morning hours. They had erected concertina wires and mobile bunkers to enforce restrictions in these areas. A police official said that the situation across Srinagar remained peaceful and no major incident of violence was reported.
The shutdown was also reported from other districts of the Kashmir but private transport was plying normally. Authorities had placed moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under housed detention while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik was lodged at Central Jail here.
Meanwhile, security forces including Army’s 9 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) apprehended three persons who were travelling in a Maruti 800 bearing registration number JK01M 4067 at a checkpoint in Kund area of Qazigund in Kulgam district. Sources said that during searches, the security forces recovered two grenades, a cheque worth Rs. 55,000 and a cash amount of Rs. 12000 from the trio, who hailed from Awantipora. “A case has been registered in this regard and investigation started,” they said.
The security forces including Army’s 13 RR, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Police and 45 CRPF Battalion today in the afternoon cordoned off Bon Mohalla locality of Hajin in Bandipora district after receiving a specific input about the presence of some militants. As the searches were started, locals including women came out of their houses and started pelting stones on security forces.
The police and CRPF fired teargas and pellets towards protesters and the confrontation between the two sides continued for several hours. Later, the operation was called off without reaching any conclusion.
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