- Protests, clashes at many places; 2 injured by pellets in Sopore
- Elderly Hurriyat activist detained in Hajin
- Protests in Sekidafar over Imam’s arrest
- Evening clashes throughout Srinagar
- 55 youth held in 24 hours
Kashmir continued to observe complete shutdown for 80th consecutive day on Monday while forces foiled several pro-freedom rallies by firing teargas and pellets at various places.
In the 80-day long unrest, at least 88 people including two cops have been killed while over 13000 people have been injured. Pertinently, Srinagar saw movement of private transport while public transport was off the roads.
North Kashmir
Hours after some youth in old town Baramulla hoisted Pakistani flags on Cement Bridge, a contingent of police raided the area and lifted all the flags from the bridge. The police party according to reports also entered into some mohallas close to Cement Bridge and fired teargas shells.
Reports said that men offered Zuhr prayers at old town Baramulla jointly while females held joint prayers at Astan-e-Alia. Later two peaceful rallies were staged. Locals in old town alleged that one more electricity transformer was targeted by police.
Reports from Sopore said that a pro-freedom rally organised at Zainageer area was disrupted by the forces who reached the venue and fired dozens of tear gas shells to disperse the participants. Despite the forces’ raid, the rally was still held later after which a major pro-freedom protest march was staged. Reports of pro-freedom rallies being held in Sopore poured in from Muslim Peer, Chanakhan, Bomia, Tujjar Sharief, Seelu, Botengoo and Dooru.
Reports from north Kashmir’s Bandipora said that mild evening clashes erupted at Kaloosa after youth assembled near NM higher secondary school. Forces fired dozens of tear gas shells and pellets to disperse the youth.
Reports said that a Hurriyat leader Ali Muhammad Dar was detained at Hajin from a local masjid triggering unrest among the residents. Reports of evening protests also poured from Trehgam, Kupwara, while the district observed complete shutdown.
South Kashmir:
Reports said that forces allegedly barged into dozens of residential houses in Pazalpora, Bijbehera, in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district triggering protests in the area. Dozens of people including women and children took to streets against the forces’ action. Reports said that the protestors were demanding action against the personnel who damaged windows of dozens of houses. They also alleged that many residents were beaten by the forces and many electricity transformers were damaged.
Reports said that protests erupted at Achabal against night raids by police. “Forces personnel raided Achabal area in the dead of the night and were demanding some youth be handed over to them. However, the locals resisted and later staged protests against the act,” residents said.
Mild clashes were also reported from Newa area of Pulwama district.
South Kashmir
In Pazalpora area of South Kashmir, forces entered into the village and ransacked the residential houses and damaged the household goods and parked vehicles.
The locals said no protest was going in the area when forces barged into houses and committed excesses.
Srinagar
Evening clashes were reported from many areas of old Srinagar that include Nowhatta, Khanyar, Hawal, Khanyar, Nawa Kadal and Gojwara. Reports of clashes also poured in from Soura, just outside SKIMS, and also at 90-feet road.
Reports said that patients at SKIMS faced a tough time after police fired dozens of tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. The smoke caused irritation to the patients.
Reports said that massive clashes broke out in Safa Kadal and Nopora, Sekidafar, area of old Srinagar after forces detained Imam of Noor Masjid, Molvi Tariq Ahmed Shah, from his residence during a nocturnal raid. Forces fired dozens of tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. Clashes were going on till late evening.
Reports of evening clashes also came in from Nowgam, Hyderpora, Peerbagh, Azad Basti Natipora, Chanapora and Lasjan areas. Similar reports came in from Lawaypora and HMT.
Central Kashmir: Mild clashes broke in the evening at Lawaypora, Sozeth, Narbal and Kawoosa bus stop in which at least four people sustained mild injuries.
Chenab Valley:
As night raids continue in Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley in Jammu region to nab those who raised pro-Kashmir slogans and participated in protest marches against civilian killings in Kashmir, curfew continued in the district for the second consecutive day. Sources said that the arrest spree continued in the district while during the nocturnal raids many people including a government employee Ajaz Ahmed Kelam of Fareedia Mohallah Kishtwar was arrested. According to police the ‘wanted’ persons have gone into hiding.
Reports said that at least six persons were injured after locals clashed with government forces during the nocturnal raid. Meanwhile, government forces continued to raid locations of Imam Bunastan Masjid Kishtwar Qari Manzoor Ganaie who gave slip to police during last Saturday night raid in which two of his associates, Abdul Qayoom Bagban and Saif-ud-Din Baghwan were arrested and booked under Public Safety Act.
Police Version
According to a statement issued by police, situation remained normal and peaceful throughout across Kashmir. It said 55 ‘miscreants’ were arrested during past 24 hours from various parts of the Valley. Police said four miscreants involved in pelting stones on civilian vehicles and injuring the civilians including some Hajis have been arrested.
