Protests continue as strike paralyzes life across Valley

Reports and eyewitnesses told KMW that life remained paralyzed for the second consecutive day in this week in wake of the curfew and restrictions in Baramulla and Islamabad districts coupled with the strike call given by Syed Ali Shah led Hurriyat Conference, in its latest resistance programme issued last week.

Like Tuesday, all shops, business establishments, private and public offices, banks and financial institutions and petrol pumps in Srinagar remained closed for the second consecutive day today, while public traffic was off the roads. Skeletal traffic mainly private and the vehicles carrying police and troops were only seen plying on the roads of this capital city.

In Srinagar, the capital city curfew was imposed in several areas after youth took to streets and engaged Central reserve police force (CRPF) personnel and police in pitched battles.

Reports said groups of youth this afternoon took to streets at Rainawari, Naidyar, Tengpora, Batmaloo, Bemina, Noor Bagh, Habba Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Naid Kadal, Khanyar and other areas of the city staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Besides shouting pro-Independence and anti-India slogans, the protesters pelted upon rocks and stones on the forces sparking off fierce clashes. At many places, forces fired warning shots when they failed to disperse demonstrators with teargas shells and baton charge. At least six people, reports and eyewitnesses said were injured in the clashes that continued till late evening.

Reports of protests and clashes were also received from several areas of North Kashmir.

KMWcorrespondent from North Kashmir said that at least seven people, one among them was critically injured when Army opened fire upon pro-freedom demonstrators in Nadihal area of Rafiabad in Baramulla district this evening.

The trouble started when a patrolling party of Army’s 32 RR confronted the pro-freedom demonstrators near Jamia Masjid, Nadihal resulting in heated exchange of words between Army and the youth. Army, eyewitnesses said fired upon the youth when the latter resisted the thrashing of people who were staging pro-freedom demonstrations. A youth identified as Ashiq Hussain, son of Mohammad Akbar Lone of Lone Mohalla received bullet in shoulder. He was was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Six of the people were beaten to pulp by Army. Two of them have been identified as Abdur Rashid Malla, 70, alias Malla Reshi and seven-year-old Adnan.

“After firing at protesters, Army men went berserk. They thrashed every passerby. They did not even spare kids and elderly,” Abdur Razzak, an eyewitness said.

The residents of Seelu, Sopore also charged the Army men of thrashing civilians who were staging peaceful pro-freedom demonstrations on the Sopore-Kupwara highway.

Clashes also broke out between protesters and forces at Cement Bridge, Azad Gunj and several areas of Sopore town. However, no reports of any injury were received.

Reports of protests and clashes amid complete shutdown have also been received from several districts of South Kashmir.

In Lazibal, Malaknag, S K colony Khanabal, Anchidoora, Gulshanabad, Naibasti and other areas of Islamabad district violent clashes broke out between protesters and the joint team of CRPF and police this evening. Forces fired several tear gas shells after they failed to disperse pro-freedom demonstrators with cane charge.

The locals alleged that the forces went berserk following pro-freedom demonstrations in the area. Forces, they said smashed window panes of dozens of residential houses.

Reports of complete shutdown amid sporadic incidents of stone pelting were also receieved from the neighboring districts of Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that two people, including a policeman was injured as miscreants made abortive attempts to disrupt peace by resorting to stone pelting on forces at Tengpora, Batmaloo, Rainawari, Naid Kadal, Khanyar, Badamwari and Cement Bridge in Baramulla district.

The spokesman said that a civilian Mohammad Umar, son of Mohammad Aslam Bhagwan of Rainawari, suffered injuries during clashes at Rainawari. The injured they said was shifted to SK Institute of Medical Sciences.

At Khanyar, the spokesman said a cop was injured when some miscreants pelted stones on police deployed for facilitating the smooth movements of school buses in the area.

“Later, in the afternoon, miscreants pelted rocks on a school bus near Badamwari. Three school children were injured.”