The curfew remained in place in Anantnag town and areas under eight police stations in Srinagar district while normal life remained paralysed on the 47th consecutive day.
Police sources said that besides areas under Batmaloo, Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations, the curfew will remain imposed in old city areas falling under five police stations of Nowhatta, Maharj Gunj, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Rainawari.
They said restrictions under Sec 144 will remain imposed in other major towns and areas in south, central and north Kashmir.
The night curfew remained imposed in Srinagar for the past week now (since last Wednesday Aug 17). Similar restrictions on the movement of people, public and goods transport during late evening and night hours are in force in north Kashmir’s Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara areas.
Stage set for Pro-Freedom Rally raided before ‘Fajr Namaz’ in Pulwama, people resist; many Injured
A strict curfew was imposed in and around the Pulwama town to foil a march to Prichoo village called by the locals in the south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.
Reports said that clashes erupted in the area at around 4 am after government forces vandalized a venue in Prichoo where a rally was scheduled to be held.
People took to streets after announcements were made from the public address systems of the mosques, exhorting youths to resist the vandalisation of the venue.
They said that dozens of youths were injured in clashes with the forces.
Forces have been deployed in strength in the area to thwart the march, they added.
Panic in Batamaloo after forces resort to aerial firing
The residents of Batamaloo on Wednesday alleged that forces resorted to aerial firing and thrashed people without any provocation.
Eyewitnesses said that government forces appeared at 7 am at Batamaloo bus stand and resorted to beating of people who went out to buy milk and veggies.
“I was out to buy bread and suddenly a large of posse of forces appeared from bus stand. They thrashed everyone, including women and children, who came their way. They fired several aerial shots also,” a resident of the locality said.
He said the firing created panic and fear among the inhabitants.
“It was unprovoked. People were out just to buy eatables. They were no protests,” he said.
Clashes in Safa Kadal after forces beat up three motorcycle-borne youths
Government forces on Wednesday beat up three motorcycle-borne youths in downtown Srinagar, witnesses said.
One of the injured youths has been shifted to SMHS hospital after he was hit on the head.
As the news spread, people took to streets and staged massive protests against the forces.
To disperse the protesters, forces burst several teargas shells.
