- Govt shuts last window to Kashmir; snaps broadband internet
- Media Gaged, Mobile Blocked, Internet Services Suspended
- Dozens injured as forces foil ‘Referendum March’
- Youth succumbs to injuries, toll reaches 59
- 10 injured in Bandipora
- Unrelenting protests in North, South
- Evening demonstrations in Srinagar
With the succumbing of another youth, the death toll in the ongoing unrest rose to 58 even as Government imposed strict curfew for 36th day in entire Kashmir on Saturday to foil the “Referendum March” called by the united resistance leadership. Scores of people were injured in action by security forces on protesters at several places.
Suhail Ahmad Wani, who had sustained bullet injuries in his head when SDM Ramban’s Personnel Security Officer opened fire on demonstrators in Lethpora area of Pulwama district on August 3, succumbed at SKIMS in the wee hours Saturday, doctors said.
Reports said as soon as his body reached Lethpora, massive pro-freedom demonstrations were held in the area. Thousands participated in his funeral procession amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Clashes also erupted in the area later.
The youth’s death took the death toll to 58 in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, with 56 of them civilians killed in police, para-military CRPF and Army firing since July 9. As many as 6500 civilians have been injured in action by government forces on pro-freedom protesters during the period with hundreds of them losing eyesight and others maimed for life due to firearm injuries. Kashmir has been witnessing widespread pro-freedom protests since the July 8 killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani by security forces.
Referendum March Foiled
Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Saturday held a sit-in outside his Hyderpora residence after he was not allowed to move towards Lal Chowk for ‘Referendum March’.
Geelani along with his associates tried to march towards city’s commercial hub Lal Chowk for the scheduled march, however they were stopped by a large posse of police.
Geelani and his associates then staged a sit-on the road, which continued for over half-an-hour.
According to pro-freedom leaderships’ protest programme, people of the Valley were asked to assemble at Lal Chowk for ‘Referendum March’.
“If you are stopped by the authorities, sit there and stage protests,” the leadership had asked people.
Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was arrested after he tried to march towards Lal Chowk as part of resistance programme.
A spokesman of Hurriyat said that a huge deployment of police and paramilitary forces detained the Mirwaiz outside his Nigeen residence.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik in under detention since July 9 and is presently lodged in central jail Srinagar.
Curfew remained clamped in all 10 districts of Kashmir.
South Kashmir
Curfew continued in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and other towns. In Anantnag, stringent curfew was imposed and army vehicles were seen patrolling the Srinagar Jammu highway at many places; Bijbehra, Sangam, Chursoo, Awantipora and Pampore.
Pro-freedom rallies continued in south Kashmir. A village panch associated with PDP announced to sever his ties with the party and join pro-freedom movement in one of the rallies in Pahalgam area. The rally which was held at Fohar village of Silgam in Ashumuqam, was part of the unity (Itihad-e-Millat) conference of various sects. People were seen shouting pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan slogans besides raising Pakistani flags, witnesses said.
Tehreek Hurriyat district president Mir Hafizullah and tehsil president Riyaz Ahmad addressed the rally. Hafizullah on the occasion asked people associated with pro-Indian parties to join freedom movement.
“The government by black-topping a few odd roads and providing NREAGA job cards, IAY sheds and BPL cards to people in no way is doing any favour to us. It is our money which we pay in the form of taxes,” said Mir.
He said that New Delhi has been looting all our resources, water, forests etc.
A similar rally was held at Nagbal, Tangom-Wagom area of Shopian, Marval in Pulwama and Ganjipora village of Koimoh in Kulgam district. Thousands attended these rallies. People from many Shopian villages were seen thronging the venue, treading several miles by foot, riding bikes and reaching in cars, load carriers and trucks. The rallies were addressed by religious clerics of various sects; Deobandies, Barelvis, Ahlehadies and Jamaat islami. Car and bike rally was also organized in Shopian area.
Violent clashes erupted in Kudwani area of Koimoh late evening. Several people were reportedly injured. One of the youth from Hawoora Mishpora village sustained pellet injury in eye and has been shifted to a Srinagar hospital.
Reports of protests also poured in from Bijbehra, Sangam, Kokernag, Vesso and Qazigund in Anantnag district, besides Kakapora, Prichoo, Ruhmoo, Busoo and Tahab in Pulwama district.
Reports said that doctors and para-medical staff in Bijbehara hospital staged a massive protest against a police official. The protesting doctors alleged that the official has let loose a reign of terror in the hospital and he thrashed not only patients but medical staff. They alleged that after pumping a bullet into the body of a youth, the official kept him in police station and didn’t allow the family to shift the injured youth to the hospital.
North Kashmir
Twelve cops, including an officer, and five civilians were injured in clashes that erupted in curfew bound north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday.
An official said that constables Dayim Ali and Khawaja Waseem were critically injured as they were hit by stones during clashes in Ashtengoo area of the district.
“Both were airlifted to Srinagar for specialized treatment,” said the official. Eleven other policemen, including SHO Bandipora, were injured in the clashes.
A doctor posted at NTPHC Ashtengoo said that five civilians were brought to the hospital who were injured during clashes. “They had received minor injuries and were discharged after providing medical aid,” he said.
Angry protesters beat up a school principal and vandalized the property in Nadihal area of the district. Reports said that protesters were taking part in a march when they pelted stones at the Govt Higher Secondary School in Nadihal area of the district.
Witnesses said that the protesters also beat up the school principal Abdul Rashid Malik and other staff members after finding the school open despite the shutdown call.
The injured principal was shifted to SDH Bandipora for treatment. They also damaged the school property and vandalized the principal’s office.
Authorities, it needs to be mentioned, have been allegedly forcing the employees to attend to their duties.
Curfew was imposed in Baramulla town after 6 PM to counter the Hurriyat programme asking people to resume businesses in the evening.
Forces personnel used public address systems of their vehicles to announce the curfew in the town.
Army on Saturday ransacked scores of residential houses in Saderkoot Bala area of Bandipora district.
Reports said that residents of Saderkoot Bala had staged a sit-in and scores of protesters were sitting on the road as few vehicles of 13RR reached and chased them away.
Residents told Kashmir Post that soldiers 13 RR entered their houses and started beating up all; men, women, old and children. They said Army damaged their residential houses and vehicles. About three dozen people were injured.
Six persons, including a Hurriyat activist, were booked under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) over their alleged role in instigating stone-pelting incidents.
An official said that Aqib Shah resident of Papchan, Hamid Parray Alias Hamid Gadayi resident of Hajin, Javid Ahmad Dar resident of SK Bala, Nisar Ahamd Parrey resident of Katpora Hajin, Shabir Rather resident of Rather Mohalla Hajin, Khursheed Ahmad Lone resident of Manzpora Hajin have been booked under PSA.
“They have been booked on charges of stone pelting, inciting violence and rioting in the district,” he said. Hurriyat activist Hamid Gadai, he claimed, was also involved in “instigating” protests in 2010 unrest. A top district administration official said that the accused persons were shifted to Udhampur.
Reports from curfew bound district of Kupwara said that protests erupted at several places that included Kupwara town, Trehgam, Handwara, Langate, Karalgund, Lalpora, Kralpora and several other areas of Lolab.
Reports said SHO Trehgam was injured in clashes that rocked the area Saturday afternoon.
Clashes and protests were reported from Palhallan town after police arrested some local youth. Local sources said that as soon as the news spread that some local youth were arrested from Misra lane in Palhallan, locals came out of their houses and resorted to protests against the arrest spree in the area. Later, youths made announcements through Masjid loudspeakers, asking people to come out of their houses. Intense clashes resulted in injuries to many protesters and cops.
Central Kashmir
Police burst tear smoke shells to disperse various processions that were taken out Saturday evening from various areas of Srinagar city. Reports said that a procession that had come from old Srinagar was dispersed near Shaheed Gunj after police resorted to intense tear smoke shelling.
Reports of protests rallies were also received from Nawab Bazar, Nawa Kadal and some other areas.
Reports reaching here from Budgam district of central Kashmir said that peaceful protests were reported from at least six places.
Reports reaching from Ganderbal said protests and clashes erupted at several places that included Khonnpet, Harpet and Safapora. About a dozen people were injured in clashes.
Govt shuts last window to Kashmir; snaps broadband internet
Completing the internet blockade, Government on Saturday snapped broadband internet services in Kashmir. Yesterday, local Internet Service Providers were ordered to shut the service, even as mobile internet services have been already snapped in Kashmir from July 8, soon after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani.
Snapping of broadband services badly affected the working of media houses. They were not able to update their websites or receive stories from the reporters from districts.
“It seems authorities are imposing every sort of curfew they can. Thank God oxygen is not under their control. They could have also imposed restrictions on it in the name of law and order,” said an angry group of broadband subscribers.
Presently, students, job aspirants and traders are facing immense hardships in absence of internet facility.
“In the contemporary, world, the world is on the finger tips on an individual due to facility of internet. But in Kashmir we are unable to know even the happenings of our surroundings,” said a group of youth at Abi Guzar here.
Pertinently, the internet is being used by large number of people for submitting online application forms for various posts, seeking job opportunities, writing e-mails, checking results, chatting with friends and relatives, booking air tickets and hotels and lot more.
Authorities had been issuing statements to students and job aspirants to avail internet facility for filling up online application or download admit cards from district headquarter offices.
However, most of the people who visited these centres complained that they were not provided any facility.
Police Version
“The situation remained by and large peaceful throughout Kashmir valley although six incidents of stone pelting were reported from Bandipora, Baramulla and Srinagar. Restrictions under section 144/CrPC remained in force in the Valley, however curfew was imposed in Srinagar and Anantnag town only. At Ashtingoo Bandipora miscreants about 200 in number disrupted traffic movement and pelted stones on police and security forces. While dealing with the miscreants, two police personnel were seriously injured who were referred to Srinagar. One of them has been seriously injured in the eye and has been shifted for advance treatment to Delhi. In Kanoosa, Aloosa and Kemah, Bandipora, miscreants pelted stones on the security force deployments. Later on they were chased away. At Palhallan, Pattan, miscreants created disturbances on road and pelted stones on security force deployments. They were chased away by using mild force. At Zampa Kadal Srinagar miscreants pelted stones on security force deployments. They were also chased away,” a police spokesman said.
