- Over 100 injured in clashes in South, Central, North Kashmir
- Curfew, restrictions, shutdown cripple life
- Separatists extend shutdown till Aug 12, Announce relaxations in strike after 6 pm on alternate days, ask DCs not to force employees to attend offices
- Thousands attend pro-freedom rally in Anchdora
- People offer afternoon prayers on roads at many places; Women lead protests in Kupwara
- Pro-freedom protests in Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda
There has been no let up in protests in the Valley even as the curfew, restrictions and shutdown remained in force for the 27th consecutive day on Thursday. Over 100 people were injured in fresh clashes in South, Central and North Kashmir.
At many places in the Valley, people offered afternoon prayers on roads while in border district of Kupwara, women led the protests.
A police official said curfew-like restrictions remained in force in areas falling under six police stations in downtown Srinagar.
He said the restrictions were also imposed in Chattabal, Batamaloo and Bemina areas in to prevent people from staging protests.
The official said curfew and restrictions also remained in forces in South, Central and North Kashmir.
The police and CRPF men were manning the deserted roads and not allowing public movement in the curfew-hit areas.
The policemen fired tear gas shells on people at Qamarwari.
Locals said people had gathered to offer Asar prayers on the road at Qamarwari chowk. “As the people were preparing to offer prayers, policemen reached the area and fired tear smoke shells on the people”.
They said many people were injured in the police action.
People at many places in Srinagar including Rawalpora, Khanyar, Babademb, Barzulla, Bagaat , Sanat Nagar and some areas of downtown offered prayers on the roads. Later, the people staged peaceful protests against the civilian killings.
People also staged protests against civilian killings were also held at many parts of Zewan in outskirts of Srinagar.
In the evening clashes broke out between youth and cops at Rawalpora, Bagaat , Barzulla, Bulbul Bagah, Sanat Nagar, Batamaloo, Chattabal, Bemina, Rainawari, Sekidafar, Saraf Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Nowhatta, Baba Demb, Maisuma, Lal Bazaar, Hazratbal and many other parts of Srinagar.
The police and CRPF men fired dozens of tear smoke shells in Khanyar and adjoining areas in the evening.
The life in the Valley remained crippled for 27th consecutive day today due to curfew, restrictions and shutdown.
At least 54 people have been killed in security men’s firing on protesters during ongoing unrest in the Valley triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizb commander Burhan Wani. Over 3500 people have also sustained injuries in the forces action.
South
Hundreds of people took out protest march towards Shopian from Pinjura and Trenz area of Shopian district. Raising anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, the protesters were intercepted in the midway near Sheikh Mohalla, by police and CRPF.
The police and CRPF men intercepted the march fired tear smoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesters. At least 20 persons sustained injuries in the clashes, which lasted for a couple of hours.
Another protest rally from Harum, Hajipora area of Shopian district comprising bikers was also intercepted by police and CRPF men outside the town. However, some 200 bikers succeeded in reaching the Gole Chakri, Shopian amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and waving of green flags.
The cops fired tear smoke shells to disperse the processionists. Sources said two protesters sustained injuries in the police action. They were later hospitalized.
People also staged massive protests in Shopian after police and CRPF men smashed window panes of residential houses.
Locals said police and CRPF men smashed window panes of several residential houses in Kannipora and Alyalpora areas of Shopian last night.
After the incident, people through loudspeakers of mosques appealed to come out and protest against the police and CRPF men highhandedness.
Later, hundreds of people marched towards the area amidst chanting of anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
They pelted stones on police and CRPF men resulting in nocturnal clashes. The cops fired hundreds of tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. The clashes continued throughout the night.
Sources said police and CRPF men had raided some houses to arrest youngsters allegedly involved in stone pelting and protests. However, their attempt was foiled by the people.
Police has arrested about 500 youth across the Valley to end street protests and stone pelting incidents.
A massive pro-freedom rally was held at Kanelwan village in Bijbehara and at Wachi Shopian today.
The leaders of various sects and some separatist leaders addressed these gatherings.
At least 28 people were wounded when police and CRPF men fired teargas shells and pellets to disperse protesters at Sirigufwara village in Anantnag district today.
The cops also used force to quell pro-freedom demonstration at Seer and Aishmuqam areas. Many people were injured in the forces action.
Tral, the hometown of Burhan Wani, also remained on boil with the area reverberating with pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India songs.
Locals said army in the area had also played anthem and pro-India songs on loud speakers and woofers.
The police baton charged protesters in Ashmuqam area of Anantnag district. However, there were no reports of injuries in the police action.
Police and CRPF men also fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse protesters at Seer Hamdan in Anantnag. At least six protesters suffered injuries in police action.
Protest demonstrations were also held in Pahalgam, Aishmuqam, Kokernag, Dooru, Verinag, Qazigund, Kiamoh and Khudwani.
Clashes also broke out between youth and cops at D H Pora.
Thousands of people also staged a pro-freedom rally at Anchipora, Anantnag.
North
People at many places in Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara offered Zuhar prayers on roads on the call of separatists.
Peaceful protests were held at Naidkhai, Aloosa, Kaloosa and Ajas areas of Bandipora district.
In the evening, police and CRPF men fired tear smoke shells and pellets to quell a protest demonstration at Chotipora Handwara on Baramulla-Kupwara highway.
At least 8 persons sustained pellet injuries in police action and were evacuated to Langate Hospital.
Meanwhile, a pro-freedom march led by women and participated by males of different age groups was taken out at Wavoora on Kupwara – Lolab main road.
Anti-India and pro-freedom slogans and songs glorifying militants were going on in the area, reports said.
The women protestors took out a torch light procession from Sulkotte and adjoining areas in Kupwara in the evening.
Women also took out protest demonstrations in Kupwara town, Handwara, Langate and other areas.
In the evening, clashes broke out between protesting youth and cops at Panzgam. Two CRPF men are said to have received injuries in the clashes.
Kishtwar
Muslims in Kishtwar observed complete shutdown today and staged protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir.
All shops and other business establishments besides schools and colleges of Muslims remained closed in Kishtwar today.
People in Kishtwar also staged protest demonstration against civilian killings.
Anti-India and pro-freedom protests were also held in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts. People in the Chenab Valley have decided to follow the protest calendar of separatist leaders.
Meanwhile, night traffic resumed on Srinagar-Jammu highway after remaining closed due to protests in Kashmir, officials said.
SSP Ramban Randeep Kumar told reporters that traffic on the highway was restored and vehicular traffic was moving smoothly.
The separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik on Thursday extended the shutdown call till August 12.
In a joint statement issued here, the leaders urged people to observe shutdown till August 12.
They have also announced relaxation in shutdown after 6 pm on alternate days.
According to the leaders, there will be no relaxation in shutdown after 6 pm on August 6.
They asked people to assemble and occupy local chowks and centers from Asar to Magrib in the vicinity of Mohallas, villages and localities on the day. “People should also stage peaceful protests, play Islamic and Azadi taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha”.
“On August 7 (Sunday), there will be relaxation in shutdown after 6 pm,” they said adding, “Sanitation and cleanliness drive will be held from 10 am to 4 pm in Mohalas, villages, localities and hospitals. A team of volunteers under the guidance of local Masjids Committees should supervise the drive. Peaceful protests will be held from Asr to Magrib prayers”.
The leaders said on August 8 (Monday), there will be no evening relaxation in curfew. “People should block all roads towards and around Civil Secretariat Srinagar, DC and Tehsil offices and ensure that no employee is able to join the duty on the day”.
They also asked Deputy Commissioners to desist from calling employees on phones and pressurizing them to resume the duty.
“On August 9 (Tuesday), there will be relaxation after 6 pm. Women should hold protests from Zuhar to Asar and men should protest from Asar to Magrib. People should play Islamic and Azadi taranas in Masjids from Magrib to Isha,” the leaders said.
They said on August 10 (Wednesday), there will be no relaxation in shutdown. “Sit in protests will be held from Zuhr to Asr with black flags. The torch light protests should be held from Magrib to Isha”.
“On August 11 (Thursday), there will be relaxation in shutdown from 6 pm. Congregational Fateh Khawani for Sheikh Abdul Aziz will be held at Mazar-e-Shohada Srinagar. A Poster letter asking pro-India politicians and their workers including panchs and surpanchs to resign from their parties and positions should be pasted on the gates of their homes,” they said.
The leaders said on August 12 (Friday), there will be no relaxation in shutdown after 6 pm. “On the day, freedom awareness campaign letter should be read by Imams and Khateebs in all Masjids after every Nimaz. They should paste this letter on the entrance of every Masjid. People should also stage peaceful protests in nearby chowks and centers after every Nimaz”.
They said protests should be held across Jammu and Kashmir on all days.
The leaders asked people to lockdown all the routes entering mohallas, villages and localities by every means during night to protect people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by forces and police.
“The torch light processions should be carried out on alternate days,” they said.
