1 Year After his Death, Burhan Freezes Life in Kashmir

Gun totting police and paramilitary personnel in strength were seen at virtually every nook and corner in small and big towns, including capital Srinagar, keeping a watchful eye on anyone who ventured out.

All university examinations scheduled for Saturday had been postponed. Schools and colleges were closed days ahead for full one week for summer break even though temperatures in the valley remain moderate.

Authorities also snapped Internet services, including broadband to prevent any protest even on social media, though police said it was done to stop rumor mongering.

Yet despite such stringent measures violent protests were reported from dozens of places.

In Tral, the hometown of Burhan Wani, the 22 year old militant who commanded unprecedented public sympathy after he took up arms under ‘special circumstances’, a tight curfew  kept lid on simmering discontent.

Here army had virtually taken control of the streets. Not a single person, not even journalists, were allowed to visit Burhan’s parents in his ancestral village of Sharief Abad. Here government forces had taken control of even martyrs graveyard where Burhan is buried and the Eidgah where lakhs of mourners had attended his back to back funeral prayers on July 8 last year.

All the districts of South Kashmir, including Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian reeled under strict curfew while men in uniform were seen patrolling the deserted streets. Police used loudspeakers to inform people about the imposition of Curfew.

2016 like situation prevailed in the Valley with deserted roads, closed shops and pin drop silence everywhere.

“We are not allowed to move towards Sharif Abad. SP Awantipora Mr Zahid Malik categorically refused to pave way for us stating that authorities have prohibited entry of any individual, including journalists into the town,” a group of Journalists from South Kashmir said.

Reports said that those who had managed to reach Burhan Wani’s house on Friday evening, were barred from coming out as Police reportedly locked the gate of the house from outside. Reports added that during a raid on the Burhan’s house by Army, a number of people were detained and handed over to police. Among those detained in police station Tral is the senior separatist leader Abdul Samad Inqalabi. Inqalabi told local news agency CNS that at least 50 persons have been detained at the police station.

Reports added that amid massive presence of Army and other government forces personnel, patriotic numbers, eulogizing Burhan and Kashmir ‘freedom struggle’ were played on the loud speakers of various mosques. Witnesses said Government forces had tough time visiting mosques blaring Azadi songs as they snapped sound system at one, another started blaring these slogans. “The situation remained tense throughout the day but there was no major incident of violence in the town.

Army conducted a flag march in Pulwama town after a group of youth hurled rocks at the deployed soldiers. Clashes between protesters and government forces were reported from Tahab area of the district.

Over a dozen protesters, including several women, were wounded after government forces reportedly fired pellets and tear-smoke shells to disperse them in Shopian, another South Kashmir town.
Eyewitnesses said that government forces raided a mosque where youth were playing Azadi songs on loud speakers and beat them up and snatched the sound system. People soon assembled there and began protesting. Soon the clashes ensued. The police in retaliation fired pellets resulting in the injuries of over a dozen persons. Witnesses said that some of the injured were shifted to hospital for treatment. One woman has sustained multiple pellet injuries and she was rushed to Srinagar  for treatment.

Meanwhile, a complete and unprecedented shutdown was observed across Kashmir. The call for shutdown was forwarded by Joint Resistance leadership.

Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are under house arrest while Muhammad Yasin Malik has been languishing in Central Jail Srinagar. Reports from Jammu division said all Muslim dominated areas including Chenab Valley and some areas of Pir Panchal also observed shutdown to remember Burhan Wani on his first anniversary.

In Srinagar, situation remained largely peaceful as the city presented a look of a ghost town.

Stray clashes broke out in Rainawari and Mehjoor Nagar area of the uptown city where government forces used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters. A large number of youth amid pro-freedom slogans pelted stones on the government forces in Rainawari who in retaliation fired tear-smoke shells to disperse them. Reports said that a youth was detained by police sparking protests in the area.

All the shops and business establishments remained shut in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district where senior separatist leader Aga Syed Hasan continued to remain under house arrest.

Clashes broke out between protesters and government forces in apple town Sopore of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Reports said that locals played Azadi numbers on the public address system of the mosques. Clashes in the town continued for hours.

At least three persons were injured during clashes in Hajin town of Bandipora district. Reports said that youth pelted stones on government forces who fired tear-smoke shells resulting in the injuries of three persons.

In a bid to foil any program on the anniversary of Burhan Wani, government forces had sealed the Eidgah at Ajas Bandipora where yesterday dozens of posters had surfaced asking people to assemble at Eidgah today.

Reports said that throughout the day atmosphere reverberated with Azadi numbers from local mosques while special prayers were offered for Burhan Wani and other militants and civilians killed in Kashmir Valley at various villages.

In view of the prevailing situation in the valley, the Amarnath pilgrimage had been suspended from the Jammu till further orders. The yatra, however, continued from Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir.

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