- Curfew lifted from all parts of Valley barring 6 police stations of Srinagar city, Pulwama and Anantnag towns: Police
- ‘Mobile phone connectivity to be restored only after normalcy’
- Several youth injured in clashes; Army vandalizes petrol pump in Bandipora
Uneasy calm prevailed in Kashmir as curfew remained in force for the 15th consecutive day on Saturday. Clashes were reported from some parts of the Valley while army vandalized a petrol pump in North Kashmir’s Bandipora town.
Meanwhile, Police said curfew has been lifted from all parts of Valley barring six police stations of Srinagar city, Pulwama and Anantnag towns.
Police and CRPF men enforced restrictions to prevent people from taking to roads and staging anti-government demonstrations.
Large number of people assembled at Batmaloo chowk and raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They alleged that police conducted nocturnal raids in the area and arrested some boys. The protesters demanded release of the arrested boys and clashed with the police and CRPF men who fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse them. Strict curfew was immediately imposed in the area again.
The youth also staged demonstrations at Munawarabad, Habba Kadal, Rainawari, Narbal, Karan Nagar, Saraibal and HMT.
The youths burnt tyres on roads and clashed with police and CRPF men, who retaliated by firing teargas shells.
Massive clashes broke out between youth and force personnel in Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district after the protesters pelted stones at a local police station.
The cops resorted to heavy tear smoke shell and fired in air to disperse the protestors.
One person was critically injured in the police action and was rushed to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.
Clashes were also reported from parts of South Kashmir.
A youth Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat was killed in forces firing in Charsoo area of Awantipora yesterday while another youth, Asif Reshi, was injured in Kakapora area of Pulwama.
Reshi remains in a critical condition under treatment in a Srinagar hospital.
Tral in Pulwama also remained under strict restrictions while youth intermittently fought pitched battles with the forces, who retaliated with tear smoke shells, pellet and aerial firing.
In Anantnag district clashes were reported from main town, Bijbehara, Kokernag, Qazigund and some other parts. Some people have received injuries during these clashes and are stated to be stable.
In Kulgam district clashes were reported from main town, Qaimoh, Khodweni, Redwini, Bugam, Bogund, D H Pora and some other parts.
Clashes were also reported from Bomai, Sopore and Kralpora Kupwara, Bandipora and some other areas in North Kashmir.
Army men vandalized a petrol pump owned by one Zahid Ahmed at Kaloosa, Bandipora.
The locals said Army men broke three machines in the petrol pump.
“Locals had parked around ten heavy vehicles in the petrol pump including some school buses. All of them were vandalized by the 27 RR personnel in Kaloosa. They harassed the owner and asked him to say that stone pelters vandalized his petrol pump,” they said adding two employees of the station were also beaten by the army men.
Stringent curfew was also imposed in Anantnag, Bijbehara, Mattan Kulgam, Kaimoh, Pulwama, Kakpora, Pampore, Awantipora and Shopian.
Late in the evening, when the forces deployment was withdrawing, a massive pro-freedom demonstration was held in these areas. The police lobbed tear gas shells and fired pellets to quell the protests.
All shops, business establishments, banks and petrol pumps in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remained closed for 15th consecutive day today on the call of the separatists and the continued curfew. The public transport was also off the roads.
Mobile phone and mobile internet services and also remained suspended in the Valley. However, only BSNL Broadband and post-paid services are functioning. Train services also remained suspended for 15th day today.
A top police official wishing anonymity said mobile phone connectivity would be restored only after normalcy returns to the valley.
“The mobile phone service will be restored after some normalcy returns. Until then the mobile services will remain suspended,” he said.
According to sources, the decision of suspending phone connectivity was taken by police.
“The police wrote to MHA and sought their permission in suspending the mobile connectivity in the Valley. There was no order issued from the state government to JK police,” they said.
Meanwhile, top Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Nayeem Khan and others are either under house arrest or detention. The separatists have extended the strike call up to July 25.
Police Version
A police spokesman said situation throughout the valley remained peaceful and under control today.
“Apart from the six police stations of Srinagar, Pulwama and Anantnag towns, curfew was lifted from all other places in Valley. However, restrictions on assembly of people continued throughout the Valley,” he said.
The spokesman said there were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley although some stray stone pelting incidents were reported from isolated places.
“During the law and order situations in last 15 days, over 3000 police and security personnel suffered injuries across Kashmir,” he added.
Strict curfew and communication blockade continued in Srinagar for the 15th consecutive day Saturday.
Clashes also broke out between protesters and forces in in Batmaloo.
Scores of people assembled at Batmaloo Chowk and raised pro-Kashmir and anti-Indian slogans.
Protesters alleged that police carried out nocturnal raids in the area and arrested few youth.
Forces immediately swung into action and fired tear smoke shells to quell the protestors. Strict curfew was immediately imposed again in the area.
Clashes between forces and protestors were also reported from Karanagar, Habba Kadal, Chotta Bazar, Zalgadar, Tinki Pora, Kani Kadal in Srinagar city.
Mobile phones and internet services remained suspended in the Valley, however, only BSNL broadband and post-paid services are being allowed to operate in the district. Train services also remained suspended.
Official said that they have orders from top brass that wherever situation improves curfew should be lifted from those areas.
The unrest erupted after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, by forces in Bumdoora village of Kokernag in Anantnag district on July 8 evening.
Top Hurriyat leaders Wednesday extended the strike call up to July 25. Separatists have appealed the people to continue the shutdown till Monday.
