Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 20: Over a dozen persons including a police officer were injured in clashes that broke out in Kashmir valley for third consecutive day today against the killing of truck conductor Zahid Ahmad Bhat.
Amid restrictions, the shutdown and protests continued in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts in which over a dozen persons including policemen were injured.
Shops and business establishments were shut in the parts of Anantnag district including Main Town, Batengoo, Bijbehara. Police had imposed restrictions in Anantnag town to prevent protests. The shutdown was also observed in parts of Kulgam district amid protests and clashes.
Violence broke out in Anantnag town after CRPF men allegedly thrashed a load carrier driver, Gulzar Ahmad of Wailoo, in Lal Chowk area of the town. This led to protests in the town.
Youth took to streets at Lal Chowk and clashed with police and CRPF at Lazibal, Gulshanabad, Dangerpora, Kadipora, Reshi Bazar, Lal Chowk and Mattan Chowk. Police fired dozens of teargas shelling to disperse the protesters at these places. Police also fired pepper gas to quell the protests. Five persons were injured in the clashes in the town.
Clashes also erupted at Bijbehera town of Anantnag district. However, police and CRPF chased the protesters by firing tear smoke shells at them. Talha, 5, daughter of Sheeraz Ahmad of Mirgund Anantnag, was injured after she was hit by a stone on her head in Pazalpora Bijbehara. She was hospitalized and is undergoing treatment.
Police today re-arrested Mirwaiz South Kashmir and chairman of Ummat-e-Islami, Qazi Yasir.
Protests and clashes erupted at Kulgam town, Wanpoh, Qoimoh and Qazigund areas of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Protesters pelted stones at the police and they fire tear smoke shells to disperse them. Four persons were injured in these clashes.
Students of Kashmir University at Hazratbal campus here staged protests against killing of Zahid.
Protests and clashes also broke out in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar this afternoon following detention and alleged manhandling of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik by CRPF in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Malik today visited Batengoo in Anantnag district to offer condolences to Zahid’s family. Malik with his supporters were marching towards Lal Chowk Anantnag where he was scheduled to hold hunger strike against Zahid’s killing.
As soon as Malik reached on National Highway, a large contingent of CRPF stopped him and thrashed them including Malik who was detained. Malik along with Javaid Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Ahsan Untoo and Shabir Ahmad Dar were lodged at Sadder Police Station, Anantnag.
As soon as the news of Malik’s detention and manhandling spread in Srinagar, scores of youth took to streets in Lal Chowk and pelted stones at Police and CRPF at Akhara Building in Maisuma.
Protesters attacked the Police and CRPF with bricks and stones. Police fired dozens of teargas shells to disperse the protesters. As the clashes were underway, the shopkeepers closed their shutters at Maisuma, Budshah Chowk, Gaw Kadal, Red Cross Road and Exchange Road. Protesters assembled at Court Road and pelted stones at CRPF and Police near Palladium Cinema.
The clashes in Lal Chowk continued for nearly two hours while in Maisuma they were going on till evening. SHO Maisuma, Mehraj, was also injured in the stone pelting.
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