4 Youth detained in Ganderbal, 9 held in Samboora
Shutdown was observed across Kashmir for the 114th consecutive day while as clashes against the nocturnal raids and arrests were reported from various areas on Sunday.
Reports of schools being put on fire by unknown persons continued to pour in as two more schools were gutted in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district taking the total number of educational institutions set ablaze so far to 25.
Markets opened in Srinagar and elsewhere after 5 p.m. on the relaxation call given by the joint resistance leadership. The major markets that include Regal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street and Residency Road witnessed huge rush of customers while as Sunday market was abuzz with shoppers. Private vehicle movement also increased on the roads after 5 p.m. Vendors had set up stalls from Zero Bridge to Amira Kadal. Shoppers could be seen purchasing winter clothes.
Meanwhile, reports said that heavy deployment of forces was made in sensitive areas of Srinagar to prevent any protest.
Reports from Lawaypora area of Srinagar said that forces conducted nocturnal raids triggering fear in the area. The raids triggered protests on which forces fired dozens of tear gas shells. According to witnesses, at least seven people including two elderly men were detained during the raids. Two elderly persons were identified as Ghulam Mohiudin Parray and Khursheed Ahmed Parray. Reports of clashes were reported from north Kashmir’s Bandipora area. A group of youth appeared in Ganai Mohalla and resorted to stone pelting.
Reports said that nine youth were detained during a crackdown by forces in Samboora area of Pampore in Pulwama district late on Saturday evening. Search operation was also conducted in Batengoo village of South Kashmir’s Anantnag. However, there were no reports of any arrests. Reports from Tral area of Pulwama district said that forces launched a sudden crackdown in Dadsara area triggering panic. The raids triggered protests in the area after which forces fired tear gas shells to disperse them, reports said.
Residents of Dadsara alleged vandalism by security forces. They said that forces broke the window panes of dozens of houses without any provocation.
Reports from Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district said that police detained four youth – Maroof Ahmad Ganai, Umar Farooq Mir and Ajaz Ahmad Ganai from Preng during nocturnal raids – and Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Akhal in Kangan area.
A police statement said that there was increased movement of traffic on the roads. “The vendors in maximum numbers were seen doing their normal business in the busy markets of the valley. Huge rush of people was seen and were busy in shopping in the markets of Srinagar city as well in other towns of the valley,” the statement said. “The situation remained by and large peaceful throughout Kashmir. There was no report of any untoward incident in any part of the valley.”
“At vulnerable points adequate deployment of police and security forces was made for the transporters in Srinagar city, in main towns as also on the roads, lanes and by-lanes connecting different places,” the statement read.
Unknown arsonists on Sunday set ablaze two school buildings in south Kashmir, pushing the number of educational institutes gutted in mysterious fires in the recent past to 27.
Fire broke out in Government Higher Secondary School building in Kabamarg area of Dialgam in Anantnag district in the afternoon.
“It was around 3:30 PM when we spotted fire in the first floor of the school and called in fire tenders,” a local resident told Kashmir Post.
Locals said they were not sure what caused the fire in the two-storey building, most of which had already been gutted as fire tenders tried to bring the blaze under control.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Syed Abid Rasheed told Kashmir Post that some unknown miscreants had set the school building on fire.
“We have put four vehicles of fire services into service and the fire will be brought under control any minute now,” Abid said while the fire service personnel were putting out the blaze.
In another incident, fire broke out at Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya school in Aishmuqam on Saturday night. The building suffered partial damage before the blaze was put out.
