- Woman dies of tear smoke in Pulwama
- Restrictions in downtown Srinagar, clashes at many places
- PDP supporters vehicle set on fire at Chrar
- Train services remain suspended for 2nd day
A 40-year-old woman died of suffocation caused by excessive tear smoke shells fired by forces during clashes in Tahab area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday while life across the Valley remained disrupted for second consecutive day on Tuesday due to the shutdown called by joint Hurriyat leadership against the civilian killings in Budgam and Ganderbal.
The shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutions in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remained closed for the second day.
The public transport also remained off the roads. However, some private cars and three-wheelers were plying. The attendance in government offices and banks was affected by the strike.
The two-day strike was called by joint Hurriyat leadership to protest against the civilian killings in Budgam and Ganderbal on Sunday during by polls for Srinagar parliamentary seat.
The restrictions remained in force for second day in Nowhatta, Zaina Kadal, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Maisuma areas of Srinagar.
Large number of police and CRPF men were deployed in these areas and other sensitive areas of Srinagar to maintain law and order and foil protests.
The residents of Rainawari complained that authorities imposed curfew in the area to pave safe passage for paramilitary forces and polling staff stationed in different schools in the area.
“Nobody was allowed to come out on the road in the interiors of Rainawari near Jogi Lankar, Kralyar, Motiyar as the curfew was strictly enforced. The polling staff had stayed back in the college as they were scheduled to move for Anantnag bypolls,” they said.
However, clashes broke out between youth and force personnel near Vishwa Bharathi College and near Police Station Rainawari. The cops lobbed tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the stone pelting youth.
The clashes also broke out in some other areas of downtown in the evening after the security deployment was withdrawing. The youth pelted stones on the police and CRPF men, who fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse them. The clashes continued for some time.
The clashes broke out in Tahab area of Pulwama district. During the clashes, force personnel fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
A woman identified as Shameema Akhtar, 40, died of suffocation caused by excessive tear smoke shells fired by forces, the locals said.
They said Shameema was a heart patient.
A police official told Kashmir Post that the death occurred during intense clashes between protesters and forces in the area.
Clashes also broke out at Aripanthan area of Budgam last evening after police party was attacked by youth with stones.
The clashes continued for some time.
Locals said police arrested a tractor driver Saleem Ahmad Bhat son of Sonaullah Bhat of Aripanthan during clashes.
Police sources said during the preceding night, unknown persons set on fire vehicle of PDP supporter, Aftab Ahmad Mir at Chrar-i-Sharif in Budgam district.
An FIR No. 29/2016 was registered by police and investigation taken up, they said.
In Ganderbal district, large contingents of police and paramilitary forces manned the roads to maintain law and order and foil protests.
Meanwhile, the train services in Valley remained suspended for the second day today.
The railway authorities had suspended train service for three days till Wednesday yesterday.
A railway official told Kashmir Post that no decision has been yet taken on restoration of train services in the Valley.
“The decision to restore rail service is usually taken after nod from IGP security,” he said.
