Srinagar, Feb 10, news agency: A shutdown was observed Tuesday across the Kashmir Valley against the killing of 12th class student by Government foreces at Palhalan Pattan area in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
On Monday, 20-year-old Farooq Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Ahmed residents of Palhalan was shot dead by the Government forces during a protest against the thrashing of family members during a nocturnal raid. The killings set-off violent anti-India protests prompting authorities to impose curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar, Sopore and Palhalan on Tuesday.
Reports said that the curfew-like restrictions remained in place in in the areas coming under Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal and Maisuma police stations. The strike and subsequent curfew like restrictions crippled the life in old Srinagar city while in the uptown, most of the shops remained closed and public transport was off the roads. However, private transport was seen plying normally on road in Civil Lines areas.
All roads leading to Palhalan were sealed off by contingents of CRPF and police to thwart protests by the locals. Reports said that police and CRPF had blocked all the roads in Palhalan and Pattan and despite restrictions, thousands of mourners participated in the funeral procession of slain youth. Hurriyat G Chairman Syed Ali Geelani addressed the mourners on mobile and condemned the killing of innocent people in Kashmir.
Reports said that soon after the Nimaz-e-Jinazah, that was offered by local Imam Molvi Muhammad Yasin, groups of youth defied curbs and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting slogans like “We want freedom,†and “Go India, go backâ€, the protesters attacked the troopers and policemen with stones.
“The forces hurled teargas canisters to disperse the protesters. However, the protesters regrouped and continued renewed assaults on the forces,†an eyewitness, said.
Eyewitnesses told news agency that at least two youth suffered injuries who could not be shifted to hospital due to tense situation. One of them was identified as 11 year old boy Muhammad Amir Khan. Assistant Sub-Inspector Khurshid Ahmed, Constable Ghulam Mohiuddin and SPO Hilal Ahmed were also injured during the clashes with protestors.
A police driver was taken to task by his seniors when the constable tried to manhandle a scribe covering the clashes.
Due to massive protest and intense clashes, police, CRPF and Army officers rushed to Palhalan to take stock of the situation. Reports said that DIG North Kashmir Gareeb Das, SSP Baramulla Mir Suhail, Army Commander Sector 10 Alok Naresh, Commandant 29 RR, Commandant CRPF 163 Battalion, SDPO Pattan keenly monitored the situation in person.
Soon after the clashes in Palhalan, authorities imposed undeclared curfew in Apple Town Sopore. Reports said that various shops were open in Sopore, however, as the police and troopers sealed all the roads, the shopkeepers downed their shutters and preferred to stay indoors.
Shutdown was also observed in other parts of Kashmir valley including Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Tral, Pampore, Budgam, Beerwah, Chadoora, Ganderbal, Kangan, Baramulla, Handwara and Kupwara.
A police official said that barring incidents of stone-pelting in Palhalan, the situation remained peaceful all across Kashmir.
