Curfew continues in several parts of Valley

Srinagar: State administration on Friday imposed curfew and restrictions in several parts of the Valley even as life remained normal for second consecutive day elsewhere.

Meanwhile, at least fifteen people, including eight troopers and cops were injured in fresh clashes.

Official sources told KMW that curfew was clamped in Srinagar’s old city areas of Safa Kadal, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta and Rainawari and main town Bandipore, Kupwara town, Trehgam and Kralpora as a precautionary measure. However, curfew was relaxed in the frontier district after 9 onwards and in Srinagar’s old city after 5 evening.

Curfew like restrictions was also imposed on the civilian movement in Palhalan area of Baramulla district.

In old city of Srinagar, considered to be the hot bed of separatism, curfew was enforced strictly since morning. Hundreds of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police, equipped with riot gear and automatic rifles had laid a siege around the old city to prevent people from venturing out of their houses. The troops had erected blockades at Kathi Darwaza, Zindshah Masjid, Khanyar, Nowpora, Baba Demb and other road links leading to the volatile areas of old city.

However, in rest of the areas life remained unaffected as all shops, private and government offices, banks and financial institutions, educational institutes, petrol pumps remained opened for the day, while public and private traffic plied normally on the roads and highways.

Meanwhile, protests broke out after Friday prayers in several areas of the Valley.

Reports said hundreds of people took to streets in Trichoo in Pulwama district after Friday prayers and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting “We want freedom,” “Islam Zindabad,” “Go India Go Back,” and other anti-India slogans, the protesters tried to march through the streets of the town. However, CRPF troops and police deployed in advance resorted to cane charge fired numerous tear smoke shells to break up the demonstrations. In retaliation, the protesters pelted upon rocks and stones on the forces. At least ten people, including seven troopers were injured in the clashes that continued for several hours.

Reports said that scores of youth assembled at Rajpora after offering congregational Friday prayers and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Besides shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters pelted rocks and stones on the forces. The forces retaliated by lobbing several teargas canisters and firing warning shots. The pitched battles continued for several hours. Three people, including a policeman were injured.

Correspondent from North Kashmir said that dozens of people mainly youth took to streets on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Delina this afternoon and staged anti-India demonstrations. Chanting slogans, the protesters pelted rocks and stones on the vehicles of Army, paramilitary and police. The forces fired warning shots to disperse the protesters. No reports of any injury were received in the clashes.

In the neighbouring Sopore town, forces burst tear smoke shells and fired in air to quell the pro-freedom demonstrations that broke out in main chowk this afternoon. The clashes continued for several hours.

Peaceful protests after prayers were also reported from Yunsoo and Sopore areas of North Kashmir.

In main town Bandipore, hundreds of people staged demonstrations against the alleged atrocities by the forces for the third consecutive day. The protesters alleged that forces have cut off electricity supply in several areas to punish them for staging pro-freedom demonstrations.

A police spokesman said that “miscreants” attempted to disrupt peace by resorting to stone pelting on forces at Delina Baramulla and Murran chowk in Pulwama district. At Delina, the spokesman said miscreants also tried to block the highway.

“Forces exercised utmost restraint and thus prevented any mishap. Miscreants were chased away and their attempts were foiled and peace was restored in these areas,” the spokesman added.

Elsewhere, in the valley, life remained normal in wake of the relaxation by Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.