- Clashes, Protests, Shutdown continue in Kashmir for 55th day of the unrest
- Over 100 injured in clashes between youth and cops
- Pro-freedom rallies taken out at many places
- Forces vandalize rally venues in south Kashmir
- Pellets rain on people at Mazhama
- Police says ‘situation under control’
- IGP says there was no deployment at incident spot, but legislator, locals contest version, say 4 boys were ‘forced’ to jump into river Jhelum
A 12-year-old boy was feared dead after forces allegedly chased a group of youth, forcing them to jump into river Jhelum, in Parimpora area on Srinagar outskirts on Thursday. Moreover, at least 100 people were injured in day-long clashes across Kashmir, reports and witnesses said.
Witnesses said mild clashes were going on at Parimpora in the evening when forces chased a group of youth near a local footbridge, triggering fear among them. “Four young boys jumped into river Jhelum out of fear. Three of them managed to swim to the river banks but one couldn’t,” said Umar Rashid, an eyewitness to the incident.
He said the forces came from both ends of the bridge, leaving no option for the boys. “The forces later hurled stones at the boys who jumped into the river,” he said.
Local residents said the situation was almost peaceful in the area when the incident happened. “Forces created a fear among youth who were sitting on the bridge,” they said.
MLA Contents Police Version
Local legislator Mubarak Gul said the forces chased a group of youth at Parimpora Bridge. “Four youth were forced to jump into river Jhelum. Three managed to swim safely to the banks, while a young boy couldn’t,” he told Kashmir Post over phone. He said the boy is feared dead.
He said locals, who tried to save the boy, were showered a volley of pellets. “Forces used excessive force on people who were trying to save the child,” Gul alleged. He said at least 30 people sustained pellet injuries in the forces’ action.
Locals also said more than 30 people sustained injuries when they were protesting against the incident at Parimpora.
The boy—a student of Class 6 at local Oxford Public School—has been identified as Danish Sultan Haroo, 12, son of Muhammad Sultan of Palpora locality at Noorbagh, Srinagar. At 11 pm, his uncle Nazir Ahmad said the body was yet to be retrieved.Talking to Kashmir Post, Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Syed Javid Mujtaba Gilani said there was no deployment in the area. “We have provided a rescue team to locals to fish out the boy’s body,” he said. The IGP, however, denied reports that the boy was chased by the forces.
CRPF spokesman in Srinagar said there was no deployment of CRPF in Parimpora. Efforts were on till late evening to fish out the boy’s body, locals said.
Meanwhile, reports said, major protest rallies were held in old Srinagar areas.
A major rally was taken out from Gojwara to Eidgah which ended peacefully. Another rally stated from Jamia Masjid in the afternoon and tried to proceed towards Lal Chowk but was stopped by forces at Khanyar. The forces resorted to heavy tear-gas shelling. Another rally started from Nowhatta towards Hawal. Reports, however, said the forces fired pellets and tear-gas shells at the participants, resulting in injuries to at least 10 youth. A major rally was held at Safa Kadal that was addressed by various pro-freedom leaders.
Meanwhile, reports of evening clashes poured in from Nowhatta, Nawakadal, Gojwara, Noorbagh, Palpora, Eidgah, Qamarwari, Nopora, Sekidafar and Khanyar areas of Srinagar. An ambulance of ‘Athrout’ NGO was also damaged while ferrying the injured from Eidgah, Palpora, the driver said.
Reports from uptown said clashes took place at Nowgam, Lasjan, Peerbagh, Kanipora and other areas. Four youth sustained injuries—two of them in eyes—during clashes at Batamaloo area, they said.
12 youth were detained at Chattabal locality while two motorbikes were set ablaze allegedly by policemen, locals said.
Meanwhile, authorities enforced evening restrictions across Srinagar including Lal Chowk.
South Kashmir
At least 20 people were injured across South Kashmir as forces once again used excessive force to foil peaceful pro-freedom rallies in several areas. Violent clashes broke out in Badasgam village of Kokernag in Anantnag district after forces attacked a peaceful pro-freedom rally, leaving at least eight persons injured.
“As the volunteers were making preparations for the rally, they (forces) raided the village and vandalized the venue. As people tried to resist, they lobbed teargas shells and fired pellets,” locals said.
However, people again assembled at the venue and the rally which was addressed by local pro-freedom leaders besides religious clerics, was held successfully. Another rally was held in Shamsipora village of Anantnag which passed off peacefully. In Aarigatnu village of Kulgam, another rally was disrupted by forces, leading to clashes that left around five persons injured with pellets.
“The rally was going on peacefully, However, forces suddenly raided the village and lobbed teargas shells and pellets on people who had assembled there,” witnesses said.
They said people in turn pelted stones on the forces, triggering clashes.
“Four youth were also reportedly detained by police.”
Five people were injured after forces fired pellets and teargas shells in Fura village of Kulgam district to foil a freedom rally there. “Two of the critically injured were referred to Srinagar hospital,” witnesses said. “They (forces) vandalized the venue and even threw away food which was cooked for the participants from different villages.”
Locals said forces also barged into houses, beat up inmates, ransacked household goods and smashed windowpanes. However, people again assembled at the venue and the rally went on.
Meanwhile, huge freedom-cum-unity rallies of various sects were also held in Trenz village of Shopian district and Pakherpora area of Pulwama district. Reports of clashes, were, however, reported in the evening from Pakherpora. Clashes and protests also erupted in Sangam, Bijbehara area of Anantnag district, Charsoo, Tahab, Ruhmoo, Pampore, Awantipora and Tral areas in Pulwama district.
Few people reportedly sustained injuries in clashes at Sangam.
Nocturnal raids continued in various areas of South Kashmir, even as people have been erecting barricades to stop entry of forces into localities and raising alarm on mosque loudspeakers. Many youth who are wanted by police are on the run to evade arrest. However, people allege that police is picking up relatives, including fathers and brothers of these ‘wanted’ youth, to pressurize the families. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was witnessed in entire South Kashmir. The streets wore a deserted look with no private vehicles seen plying. People had also erected barricades at various places.
Police and paramilitary forces wearing riot-gear and armed with sophisticated weapons were seen manning the streets in all towns—Anantnag, Bijbehara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Pampore. The army was also deployed all along Srinagar-Jammu Highway. Late evening clashes were, however, reported from old town Anantnag when the deployment was being withdrawn.
Central Kashmir
Reports said clashes erupted in Mazhama area of Budgam district against the alleged vandalism by forces. Locals said more than 40 people were injured in the forces’ action when they fired pellets and tear-gas shells at the peaceful protestors. Eight of the total injured sustained pellet injuries and were admitted in SKIMS Bemina, of whom five were operated upon, reports said. Among the injured were two dozen women also, witnesses said.
Locals alleged that forces broke windows and doors of many residential houses in Mazhama, triggering protests. A massive protest rally was held from Mazhama area of Budgam district earlier.
Reports said four youth were hit by pellets in Ompura area of Budgam district.
Meanwhile, three civilians and one forces’ personnel were injured after a stone-pelting incident on Srinagar-Leh highway in Cherwan, Kangan area of Ganderbal district. Police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Two youth were detained from the locality. Locals alleged that forces smashed windowpanes of residential houses at Cherwan.
Clashes between forces and youth broke out at Malopora Ganderbal after youth erected barricades on Kangan-Ganderbal road. Police rushed to the spot and chased the youth after resorting to teargas shelling. Three youth were arrested from the locality.
Reports said peaceful protests were also held at Pandach and Beehama areas. People also offered the Asr prayers on road in Beehama.
Meanwhile, MLA Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar strongly condemned the ‘atrocities’ by forces in Pandach area of Ganderbal district. In a statement, Ishfaq said excessive use of force and arrests are “creating panic among people” and urged the government to stop this.
North Kashmir
Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Kaloosa locality of Bandipora in north Kashmir on Thursday in view of escalation in street protests, police said.
Clashes erupted between youths and forces in Gulshan chowk area of Bandipora district. Witnesses said clashes erupted as forces were removing barricades erected by youths. Youths hurled stones at the forces who responded by bursting teargas shells. Clashes were going on at the time of filing of this report.
Massive protests were held in Ownagam village in Bandipora district against the arrest of a shopkeeper. Reports said hundreds of men, women and children took part in the protest to press for his release. Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani addressed a pro-freedom rally Bandipora telephonically. Reports said a massive pro-freedom rally was organized in Kehnusa area which was addressed by Geelani. Pro-freedom and anti-India slogans were raised during the rally.
Residents of Nathpora alleged that cops ransacked several houses without any provocation and picked up three youth, triggering protests in the area. Meanwhile, reports said, a rally was foiled with teargas shelling in Hajin when it tried to march towards Police Station Hajin demanding release of youth. Locals of Vijapar and Shahgund alleged that police detained five youth during nocturnal raids.
Reports from Kupwara said thousands of Lolab residents are having sleepless nights after forces wreaked havoc by damaging their property. Protestors including women and children marched towards Sivar alleging that army men broke windowpanes of their houses and other property in Siver, Harden, Gudwud areas, last night.
Clashes between forces and protesters were reported from Nutnoosa, Shalpora, Bramri, Dugmulla, Maidanpora, Waterkhani, Rudbugh, Shudipora, Trehgam, and Langate. Meanwhile reports from Sopore said clashes were witnessed in Arampora, Batpora and Main Chowk.
Police Version
According to a statement from Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, “barring some stray stone pelting incidents, the overall situation remained under control throughout Kashmir.”
“Three stone pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar and Kupwara, and one each from Anantnag, Shopian, Ganderbal, Budgam and Sopore,” the spokesman said, and added that at these places “miscreants came on the roads and attempted to disturb the normal traffic and movement of people by pelting stones on vehicles and on police and security force deployments.”
He said “increased inter-district and inner-city traffic movement continued throughout Kashmir.”
