Srinagar: Even though curfew continued only in some parts of downtown Srinagar, normal life remained paralyzed for the 75th day today due to restrictions and strike called by separatists in Kashmir, where the ongoing unrest has left 83 civilians dead and over 9000 others injured.
Police said curfew will continue in three police stations falling under down town Srinagar, including Nowhata, Khanayar, M R Gunj while elsewhere in Kashmir valley security forces remained deployed to strictly implement restrictions on assembly of people under Section 144 CrPC.
Though curfew has been lifted from Harawan in the city outskirts security forces remained deployed in strength to stop any protests in the area, where an 11-year-old youth succumbed to pellet injuries few days back.
Even though police said curfew will remain in force in three areas in downtown, but all roads leading to historic Lal Chowk and Ganta Ghar, the nerve centre of the summer capital, remained closed with barbed wire. The busy Amira Kadal bridge on river Jhelum, leading to historic Chowk, also remained closed with barbed wire from both ends. However, pedestrians were allowed to move on the road.
Meanwhile, barbed wires from main roads leading to Maisuma, including from Budshah Chowk, Madina Chowk, Gaw Kadal and Red Cross roads were removed. But, large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed to prevent any protests and violence. aulana Azad road was also through for traffic though security forces remained deployed after every ten feet.
Shops and business establishments remained closed in the summer capital, Srinagar and its outskirts while traffic was also off the roads though private vehicles, particularly two wheelers, could be seen plying on some routes, including civil lines.
Reports from Hazratbal Srinagar said that a large number of women staged a pro-freedom protest inside the Hazratbal shrine. The protesting women demanded end to unabated killings in Kashmir.
Reports from South Kashmir said that several people who were part of a pro-freedom rally at Dooru Anantnag were injured after Army, CRPF and Police raided the venue and fired tear-smoke shells and pellets to disperse them.
Witnesses said that despite using force, people successfully organized the rally. They added that hundreds of people attended a massive pro-freedom-cum-unity rally at Shangran area of Dooru tehsil. The locals alleged that forces raided the rally and even damaged the private property.
“During morning hours Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF and police men came and started firing tear gas canisters and pellets indiscriminately,” locals said adding that many people were injured in the forces action. “The injured included two ladies,” they said. The local sources informed that four injured, including two ladies who were hit by pellets were rushed to District Hospital Anantnag for treatment.
Witnesses added that despite forces action the rally was organized in a local walnut orchard where local leaders addressed the people. The locals said that the forces damaged at least three electricity transformers besides private property worth lakhs of rupees. “People from Zaldoora, Bon, Shangran, Nowpora, Shanker Pora, Dooru attended the rally,” locals added.
Reports from Apple town Sopore said that a peaceful march was taken out from Jamia Masjid Sopore that was attended by hundreds of people. The participants waved green flag and placards seeking solution to Kashmir issue. The peaceful march according to eyewitnesses culminated peacefully at Chanakhan.
Meanwhile protests were held in Banihal amid a complete shutdown in the town on the call of resistance leadership on Wednesday.
Shops and commercial establishments are closed in the town due to the shutdown called in solidarity with the people of Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley.
Reports said that mobile Internet and broadband service has also been suspended in the area.
A complete shutdown was also observed in Kishtwar district against the unabated civilian killings in Kashmir and booking of youths in the district in various cases. The call for shutdown was given by Imam Jamia Masjid Kishtwar Farooq Ahmed Kichloo after a decision taken by the Majlis-e-Shoora comprising various Imams of the Masjids and the religious bodies.
All business establishments in Kishtwar district including schools remained closed while thin attendance was recorded in government offices.
The shutdown was observed to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir region in view of civilian killings and against the district administration Kishtwar for registering FIRs against youths and Imams of Kishtwar.
Reports said that Bhadrwah town also observed a complete shutdown while people stage peaceful protests at Bhalla, Pranoo, Thatri, Khara and Gondhou areas demanding stoppage of killings in Kashmir and release of detained youth from the jails.
Meanwhile, According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, there was no curfew in the Valley except under the areas of three police stations in Srinagar.
“Police arrested 43 individuals found involved in stopping/disrupting the traffic, damaging vehicles, public property and creating disruption in opening of shops,” the statement said.
It said a couple of stone pelting incidents were reported from Zainapora in Shopian and Shangran, Dooru in Anantnag where miscreants in their attempts to disturb the situation assembled and pelted stones on police and security force deployments.
“Barring these incidents, the overall situation remained under control across the valley. Greater movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed across the valley including in the Srinagar city,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement issued by Zonal Police Headquarters Jammu, the overall situation throughout the Jammu zone remained normal.
“Following improvement in situation, the district administration Rajouri announced relaxation in curfew today from morning 700hrs till further orders,” it said.
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