Protests continue despite curfew in South Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Businesses remained suspended with normal life badly hit on Thursday as Kashmir Valley observed a protest strike against death of fifth person in CRPF firing in Shopian on Wednesday.
In South Kashmir, Shopian, neighbouring Pulwama and Kulgam districts remained under curfew and groups of youth defying restrictions held protest demonstrations.
Thursday strike was called by Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani against the killing of a 28 year old youth Rafiq Ahmad Rathar in Shopian a day earlier. Geelani has now reportedly extended the strike for two more days.
According to reports a strict curfew was put in place in Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama districts. Riot police and CRPF personnel had sealed all the roads and erected mobile bunkers to thwart any kinds of protests. People were not allowed to come out of their houses.
Reports said that the roads in Shopian town wore deserted look. Same situation prevailed in Kulgam and Pulwama districts.
However, despite strict curfew, groups of youth chanting pro-freedom slogans held protests in Baba Mohalla, Gagrin, Kanipora and Malik Mohalla. Youth resorted to stone-pelting and engaged security forces in clashes. Similar reports have been received from many other areas of Kulgam and Pulwama.
One Amir Lone, a teenager son of Mohammad Altaf Lone of Raidwain Kulgam, was seriously injured after a tear gas shell hit him at Reidwain, Qaimou area of Kulgam district. He was shifted to Bijbehara hospital where from doctors referred him to Srinagar.
Reports said that angry youth resorted to stone pelting on a SOG camp in Reidwani area of Kulgam. The SOG and CRPF personnel deployed there fired several shots in air and used tear smoke shells to disperse the protesting youth. A shell hit Arif who fell on the ground with its impact. Doctors treating him at SKIMS said that his condition was out of danger.
In Kakapora area of Pulwama, youth protested against Shopian killings and targeted SOG and CRPF personnel who were deployed in strength on roads. Soon after the clashes, police arrested a youth and bundled him in the armoured vehicle. People in large numbers came on roads and demanded his immediate release. The detained youth who was identified as Wasim Raja son of Abdul Rashid Dar resident of Samboora Pampore. People alleged that Wasim was sitting on the edge of a shop when he was picked up by the police.
Meanwhile, scores of people were thrashed by CRPF in Pulwama district where strict curfew remained in vogue for the fourth consecutive day. Reports said that people were seen coming out of their houses in search of essentials particularly baby food and medicines.
I was approaching toward District Hospital, Pulwama to fetch medicine for my ailing son but CRPF personnel caught hold of me and beat me to pulp. They hit me with lathis and gun butts, said a resident of Dangarpora.
All shops and business establishments remained shut in Srinagar city. However, thin private transport was seen plying on roads. While old city wore a deserted look, the shops in various areas of civil lines, including Jawahar Nagar, Solina, Raj Bagh were partially open.
Security forces roughed up people at HMT and smashed the windowpanes of residential houses after a group of youth resorted to stone pelting on police and para-military personnel deployed there.
In Barsoo area of Ganderbal, scores of youth attacked an army convoy with stones and damaged windowpanes of several army vehicles. Youth pelted stones on the civil trucks, which were part of the army convoy. Reports said at least 15 vehicles suffered damage while two army vehicles retreated towards Sumbal camp.
Army exercised restraint and did not retaliate, eyewitnesses said. They said that hundreds of youth had occupied Barsoo Bypass during the day and were pelting stones on security vehicles passing through the area.
In Baramulla town stone pelting incidents were reported from various places including Khanpora, Azad Ganj, Wagoora, Kakarhamam and Cement Bridge. People were protesting against the mysterious death of People Conference leader Abdul Rashid Sofi. Police used tear gas shelling and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protestors.
Deputy Inspector General of Police North Kashmir, J.P.Singh said that barring few stray incidents of stone pelting situation in town remained peaceful.
Meanwhile, High Court Bar Association Kashmir boycotted the court proceedings as a mark of protest against Shopian killings. We suspended our work and did not attend the Court, Bar spokesperson said.
According to the Director General of Police, Ashok Prasad situation over all remained peaceful throughout Valley. There were few stone pelting incidents but the situation remained under control, he said.
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