- The situation in the Kashmir continued to remain tense with youth clashing with security personnel at many places.
- Curfew has been lifted across the valley, except from South Kashmir’s Anantnag town.
- Over 50 youth have sustained injuries in police action in Srinagar in last three days of clashes.
Even as authorities lifted curfew from across the Valley except from South Kashmir’s Anantnag town, the situation in the Kashmir continued to remain tense for 20th consecutive day on Thursday with youth clashing with security personnel at many places.
“Except Anantnag town in South Kashmir, there were no restrictions anywhere in Kashmir,” a police spokesman said.
He said the curfew was lifted following improvement in the situation.
The authorities, however, had to impose restrictions in some parts of downtown as youth took to roads in Safa-Kadal, Nowhatta, Noorbagh, Cement Bridge Qamarwari, Bohri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Karan Nagar, Chattabal, Babademb and other areas and clashed with the security personnel. The cops fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the stone pelting youth.
The clashes were also reported from Sanat Nagar, Batamaloo, Nowgam, Barbarshah, Padshahi Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Peerbagh, Sarai Bala, Maisuma and other areas of uptown Srinagar.
Over 50 youth have sustained injuries in police action in Srinagar in last three days of clashes, official sources said.
At many places in Srinagar, masked youth were patrolling the roads and stopping vehicles and checking the identity card of the travelers.
The youth also clashed with police and CRPF men in many parts of South Kashmir.
In Sangam area of Anantnag district, youth alleged that security men pushed a young boy into river Jehlum and arrested three of his friends.
The youth later staged protest demonstration in the area and clashed with the cops.
In Shopian district of South Kashmir, dozens of youth on bikes took out a rally. They later hoisted a Pakistani flag in the area and clashed with the police and CRPF men, who resorted to tear smoke shelling and fired in air to disperse them.
Another bike rally with Pakistani flags was reported from Verinag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
A police official said after protests, authorities imposed restrictions in parts of South Kashmir to maintain law and order.
In the areas, where restrictions or curfew was not imposed, the life remained crippled due to the shutdown called by separatists.
The life in Valley has remained crippled for last 20 days due to curfew imposed by authorities and shutdown called by the separatists to protest against civilian killings.
At least 51 people including two policemen have been killed and over 5500 including 3000 civilians injured in clashes between youth and security personnel in last 20 days in the Valley. The clashes were triggered by the killing of 21-year-old-Hizb commander Burhan Wani.
The separatists have extended strike call upto July 29 and called for march to historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar tomorrow.
A police official said they are keeping a close watch on the situation.
“We may impose curfew-like restrictions tomorrow to foil separatists march and maintain law and order,” he said.
All top separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Bilal Gani Lone have either been placed under house arrest or detained.
A police spokesman said situation in the valley remained peaceful and under control today.
“There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the valley,” he said.
