Curfew-like restrictions imposed in Srinagar, Aerial firing in Batamaloo post stone pelting attack

Authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions in Srinagar to foil the march by separatists on Friday towards the city`s centre in Lal Chowk. The police and CRPF jawans have been deployed at vital places to stop protests.

Meanwhile, shutdown continues for 84th day which has crippled the life of local residents. The Valley is also on high alert after India carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday night.

Villages in the bordering areas are being evacuated and locals are being moved to safer locations. Meanwhile, the death toll of Army personnel in the deadly Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 19 today, as another solider succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, Forces resort to Aerial Firing in Batamaloo after stone pelting attack “I thought it was encounter,” said a visibly frightened elderly man in Srinagar’s Batamaloo when asked about early morning firing.
On Friday, two police jeeps went deep inside Batamaloo making announcements that curfew has been imposed in the area. “Don’t come out,” cop shouted through loud speakers installed over roof of one jeep, “it is better to stay home.” It was round 7:30 AM that police men were seen moving in the two jeeps making announcements.
The resistance leadership has asked people to offer Friday prayers on Batamaloo-Lal Chowk-Dalgate road stretch.
“People were out of their homes to buy essentials,” a resident of Danderkhah Batamaloo said. “Some shops had opened very early in the morning.”“As soon as the two police jeeps reached Danderkhah, it came under stone pelting attack,” the local informed, “in rage, police men resorted to intense aerial firing.”
The firing by cops made people scary and they fled for safety. “I took hold of my two grandchildren and fled to a relative’s home as my house is under construction,” an elderly man said, “it was for the first time in last 84 days that cops have resorted to such sort of response.”
After people rushed inside their homes for safety, the locals said, shopkeepers fled keeping shops wide open. “Cops came and destroyed the items in the shop,” an eye witness said, “they also damaged an auto rickshaw which was stationed by its owner nearby.”

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