- 36 injured in fresh clashes
- Police ‘teargas’ Muharram processions
- 66 more arrested in 24 hours: Police
At least 36 people were injured in clashes that erupted at some places in Kashmir on Tuesday, even as normal life continued to remain paralyzed for the 95th straight day due to shutdown and restrictions.
In Srinagar, curfew-like curbs remained imposed in areas falling under jurisdiction of police stations Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharaj Gunj. Official sources said restrictions were imposed in view of Chaharum (fourth day) of killing of 12-year-old Junaid Akhoon who was hit by pellets at Saidapora and later succumbed to injuries at SKIMS Soura, and also to thwart the Muharram processions.
Witnesses said at least 15 persons were injured in clashes in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Tuesday. The clashes erupted after forces cordoned off Tumlahall, Bathnoor and Nikas Arabal villages and while searches were on, youth came out and pelted stones on the forces who responded with teargas shelling and pellet firing, the witnesses said.
Locals had also called for a rally in Tahab which was, however, foiled by forces.
Reports said 10 people were injured in Panzgam area of Pulwama after forces intercepted a protest march. Later, the forces allegedly ran amok and beat up people, leaving at least 10 persons injured.
About half a dozen people were also injured in Dadsara area of Tral after forces “created havoc in the area and caused damage to property worth millions of rupees,” locals said.
The people alleged that forces have unleashed a reign of terror in the area by damaging residential houses, parked vehicles, power transformers and private buildings.
In Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, pro-freedom protests were held in which people from Jamia Qadeem, Bomai, New Colony and Botengo participated. Protests were also held against the detention of local youths.
Elsewhere in Kashmir, a complete shutdown was observed for the 95th straight day, with business establishments remaining closed and public transport completely off the roads.
Muharram Procession Foiled
Reports said police and paramilitary forces resorted to heavy teargas shelling to prevent Shia mourners from taking out a procession in Shamaswari area of Srinagar on Tuesday. They said despite the police action, the mourners in small groups managed to reach Habba Kadal.
Reports said a Muharram procession was taken out from Mandibal area of Nowshera in Srinagar. They said at Alamgari Bazar, a Hurriyat leader Masroor Abbas Ansari addressed the mourners. They said pro-freedom slogans were chanted during the procession.
In Baba Demb area of Old Srinagar, over a dozen mourners were injured after forces tried to foil a scheduled Muharram procession, reports said. They said that forces used teargas canisters to disperse the mourners, resulting in injuries to several mourners.
The police and paramilitary forces had blocked all roads leading towards Gaw Kadal where another Muharram procession was proposed to be held in the afternoon. They said heavy contingent of forces was deployed on roads and the movement of pedestrians was restricted.
In the evening, a report said personnel of Special Operations Group of police resorted to aerial firing in Batagund Tral after coming under heavy stone-pelting.
Police Version
In an official statement, a police spokesman said: “Following improvement in situation curfew was lifted from six Police Stations of South and East Srinagar, however restrictions continued in some Police Stations of the old city. There was no curfew anywhere across the valley. The situation remained by and large peaceful although stray incidents of stone pelting were reported.”
“During the day increased flow of traffic and movement of people continued in most areas of Srinagar and other parts of valley. Vendors and some shopkeepers were seen doing their usual business in the markets and towns of the valley. A number of Muharram processions were taken out across the valley as also in Kargil. Most of processions culminated peacefully though a few were still going on,” the spokesman said.
“The action against the trouble mongers and miscreants initiated by police is on, and in last 24 hours 66 persons involved in crimes of creating hurdles in movement of people, stone pelting and creating trouble for the common people have been arrested across Kashmir.”
