- Kishtwar shuts against civilian killings in Kashmir
- Hizb’s Zakir posts video, asks youth to continue protests
- Night curfew to be imposed in Srinagar district
Death toll in the ongoing faceoff between security forces and locals in the Kashmir Valley rose to 66 on Tuesday after seven people were killed allegedly in firing by security forces in the last 24 hours.
Curfew and communication blockade across the valley continued for the 39th day as the government struggled to bring the situation under control, with protests continuing in most places.
Four people were allegedly killed in Aripanth village of Budgam district in central Kashmir on Tuesday morning when CRPF and J&K police tried to cordon off the area. Another person was allegedly killed in Larkipora area of south Kashmir. On Monday evening, a person was allegedly killed in Batamalo area, while another in Tangmarg succumbed to injuries received last week.
Scores of protesters were injured across Kashmir on Tuesday and two admitted to Srinagar hospitals were critical. Locals in Aripanth village alleged that civilians were killed in “unprovoked firing”. “Last night, forces raided the village and made failed attempt to arrest local residents. This angered them and we faced bloody reaction in the morning,” a local resident told reporters in Aripanth village.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, meanwhile, accused the central government of ignoring ground realities in J&K, while alluding to PM Modi’s Independence Day speech where he mentioned Balochistan, an insurgency-hit province in Pakistan.
Abdullah tweeted: “6 protestors dead in Kashmir in 24 hours but WTH let’s go sort out Balochistan since we are doing such a good job in J&K at the moment!!!”
Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik have extended their strike call till August 18 and called for march towards the UN office in Srinagar on August 17.
Mirwaiz in a statement issued said that if government troops stopped people, they would sit wherever they are stopped for at least 72 hours peacefully. Situation in Kashmir went out of hand following the killing of HM commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.
Meanwhile, complete shutdown is being observed today in entire Kishtwar district against the unabated civilian killings in Kashmir.The call for shutdown was given last night at 10:00 am by
Imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar Farooq Ahmed Kichloo issued the strike call last night after a decision by the Majlis-e-Shoora comprising various Imams of the Masjids and the religious bodies.
The call for shutdown according to Majlis-e-Shoora was forwarded to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir region in view of civilian killings.
All the business establishments and schools remained closed in the district while a thin attendance was recorded in government offices.
Skeletal movement of traffic was observed on the Kishtwar roads, whereas, majority of the towns in the district like Palmar, Drabshalla, Chatroo, Drabshala, Mughalmaidan, Dadpath, Bhunjwah, Sarthal and adjoining areas of the district also witnessed complete shutdown.
Bus stand Kishtwar, Old Bus Stand Kishtwar,Shahidi Chowk, Sarkoot, Sangrambhata, Malipath, link road, Poochal, Bandrina, Hullar, Pohie, Asrariya Road, Bunastan, Guriyan, Tund and all other areas of Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas witnessed a deserted look due to the strike.
Zakir Rashid Bhat,new face of Hizib in south Kashmir as well a close aide of slain Hizb commander Burhan Wani, has posted a video message asking youths to stay away from police recruitments.
According to the Indian Express, Bhat has asked youths to skip police recruitment and to continue the ongoing protests in Kashmir.
Zakir, the report said, described recruitment of special police officers — recently advertised by police— as a plot to create a divide among people in the Valley.
“These people want to create an Ikhwan (counter-insurgency group operating in the Valley in the 1990s) and want to make Kashmiris fight with each other. Youth should stay away from such conspiracies and not take part in it [engagement of SPOs],” he said.
“Whosoever takes part in it will be himself responsible for his life,” he warned.22-year-old Zakir, who studied civil engineering in Chandigarh before joining militant ranks in 2013, was seen as the successor of Burhan Wani.Wani died in a gunfight with forces on July 08, triggering massive protests across Kashmir in which 65 people have died so far.
Post today’s attack on Army convoy in district Baramulla during wee hours of Wednesday morning, a high level security meet was called by the top brass of armed forces in Jammu Kashmir in which the decision to impose strict curfew during night in Srinagar district was taken. Sources told Kashmir Post, a strict curfew will be imposed in entire district. They said people are advised not to come out of their homes during night.
