Massive clashes erupted in north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Friday after the government forces tried to break up a pro-freedom rally.
Police and paramilitary forces intercepted the rally near Nowpora Chowk and fired several tear smoke shells to disperse the demonstrators. This triggered massive clashes, in which around a dozen women sustained injuries.
The clashes were going on when last reports came in.
Pro-freedom slogans rock Dargah Hazratbal after Friday prayers
Pro-freedom protests were held at Dargah Hazratbal after congregational Friday prayers, witnesses said. They said that protests were staged at the end of the prayers in which pro-freedom slogans were raised.
Geelani, Mirwaiz defy detention orders, arrested
Police on Friday arrested Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani and Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as they defied detention orders and started marching to Aripanthan, Budgam.
Hurriyat sources said that Geelani came out of his residence in Hyderpora however police already deployed there arrested him. He was taken to Humhama police choki, they said.
Mirwaiz also was detained after he tried to march towards Aripanthan village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, sources said adding Mirwaiz was shifted to police station Nigeen.
Pertinently, both Geelani and Mirwaiz are undergoing house detention.
Bhaderwah shuts against Kashmir killings
Muslims in Bhaderwah are observing a complete shutdown today against the “criminal silence” of both Union and State Governments over Kashmir killings and rapidly brewing unrest in Chenab Valley.
Shops, other business establishments and some private schools of Muslim community remained closed, however government schools, offices and banks are functioning normally.
The shutdown call was given by Anjuman-e-Islamia Bhaderwah in protest against the union and state government, “for not initiating any talks and maintaining a criminal silence over the sufferings of Kashmiri people since last 41 days.”
“People of Kashmir are going through the worst, but surprisingly a criminal silence is being maintained by both Union and State government, which is further aggravating the problem and unrest is fast spreading also in Chenab Valley and other parts of Jammu province ,” said Anjuman-e-Islamia President Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh.
“We have given a call for peaceful bandh to lodge our protest , but for how long we will keep our emotions, especially those of youth in control, as both the governments instead of initiating the talks are trying to curb the unrest by killing and wounding innocent people. We are being pushed to the wall for which retaliation is bound to happen,” he added saying that Government is testing “our patience and if any untoward thing happens in Chenab Valley, none but government will be responsible for that.”
