SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley remained under a 24×7 curfew and a communication blockade for the 15th consecutive day Saturday with sporadic protests and clashes reported from various places from the Valley.
On Saturday, the fifteenth day after the killing of commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani the death toll stood at 53 with several thousand lying in various hospitals, mostly with bullet and pellet wounds.
The curfew continued in most parts of Srinagar as it did in entire South Kashmir. Normal life remained crippled elsewhere where restrictions remained in place but were not enforced strictly.
In Batmalu and Habba Kadal quarters of the capital, hundreds of residents staged angry protests. The youths at Habba Kadal took out a procession in favour of freedom and militants and staged anti-India protests. Though the protest ended peacefully but stone-throwing clashes raged later in the area.
At Batmalu, clashes between Govt forces and youth erupted in the morning following reports of overnight raids in the area. Protests continued for most parts of the day. The youth burnt rubber tires on the streets and clashed with forces who responded by firing teargas shells.
The south Kashmir areas also continued to remain under curfew but there was no major incident of violence. However, clashes broke out between youth and CRPF at Awantipore, Tral and some other areas.
At Chadoora in Budgam district of central Kashmir, protesters attacked local police station after which forces resorted to massive teargas shelling and aerial firing.
The clashes also raged in several parts of north Kashmir including Bomai Sopore and Kralpora Kupwara. A police official said that overall the situation Valley remained peaceful compared to Friday when clashes rocked the region and claimed youths life in forces action.
Kakpora Firing Triggers Uproar In Pampore
PAMPORE: Police in the saffron town of Pampore swooped on a local mosque at Frestbal on Saturday afternoon after protestors used loudspeakers to broadcast pro-freedom and anti-India slogans taking two youth into custody.
According to the reports, the arrested youth were not the part of the protest campaign triggering further protests by the people including women. A police party reached the spot barely half an hour later and captured two youths, an eyewitness called Kashmir Observer office. The boys were not among the protesting youth.
Soon after the news spread in the town, men and women in large numbers surrounded the raiding police party asking the policemen to release the youth.
After a shot standoff, the police let go the boys, the eyewitness said.
Tension gripped the town after a fruit vendors shop was torched by protestors the previous day for defying the strike call. Police had put in place strict restrictions barring people to venture out of their homes. We couldnt even move out of our homes and couldnt buy essentials, another Pampore resident said.
Pampore was relatively peaceful until scores of youth injured in the
Kakapora firing were bought here for treatment on Friday afternoon.
ALSO READ LIST OF 53 PERSONS KILLED IN 15 DAYS OF PROTESTS
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