Valley reels under curfew, 17 hurt in fresh clashes

Srinagar: At least seventeen people on Friday were injured in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police action in twin districts of Baramulla and Islamabad even as strict curfew and restrictions paralyzed life across the Valley. Reports and eyewitnesses told Press Bureau of India that curfew was strictly enforced across the Valley even as Hurriyat Conference (G) spearheading the ongoing ‘Quit Kashmir’ had called off strike today in view of the congregational Friday prayers in Masjids and Shrines across the Valley. CRPF and police, deployed in huge numbers in this summer capital enforced tight curfew fearing protests after Friday prayers. Armed with assault rifles and riot gear, the forces manned lanes, by lanes, roads and highways to restrict the movement of the civilians. At many places, iron barricades and spools of barbed wire were laid to prevent people from coming out of their houses and staging pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. All shops, offices, banks, petrol pumps, business establishments and government offices across valley remained closed, while traffic remained off the roads due to government curbs coupled with Hurriyat called strike. However, schools remained opened with very thin attendance of students. In Srinagar, harsh curfew was enforced by thousands of CRPF men and policemen. The volatile areas of the old city, particularly Nowhatta, Gojwara, Hawal, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Kawdara, Safa Kadal, Eidgah, and Nawab Bazar were sealed by CRPF troops and Police since early morning fearing pro-freedom demonstrations. Curfew was also strictly enforced in Khanyar, Khayam, Rainawari, Fateh Kadal, Naid Kadal and other areas. Meanwhile, seventeen people were injured when CRPF and police opened fire upon groups of youth in Baramulla and Islamabad districts this afternoon. KMW correspondent from North Kashmir said that six people, four among them suffered pellet injuries when CRPF men opened fire upon protesters in Khanpora area of Baramulla district this afternoon. Quoting eyewitnesses PBI correspondent said that the youth were staging pro-freedom demonstrations at Khanpora after Friday prayers when a vehicle of CRPF passed the area and fired warning shots to quell the demonstrators. The protesters hurled stones and the rocks on the forces sparking off clashes. Troops fired from pellet guns on the protesters resulting in injury to at least four youth. Some of the injured youth have been identified as Javed Ahmad, son of Mohammad Akbar Dar, Amir Khan, son of Ghulam Qadir Khan and Iqbal Ahmad Dar. Two more youth were injured due to beating. At Sherpora area of Islamabad district, a teenager was beaten and fired upon allegedly by forces this afternoon. Family sources said that Zubair Ahmad, 17, son of Gulzar Ahmad Ganai of Sherpora, Hazratbal was on way to Masjid when forces fired upon him before thrashing him severely. The injured teenager, a student of tenth standard was rushed to district hospital and later referred to SMHS hospital Srinagar. He had suffered injury in stomach. “Minutes after Zubair left for prayers, we heard gunshots. Zubair returned home and complained of pain in stomach. He instantly fell
unconscious on the ground. When we removed his shirt, we found blood oozing from his tummy,” Zubair’s mother, Meema told Press Bureau of India at SMHS hospital this afternoon. “I fail to understand why my son was fired upon. He was not pelting stones but was going for prayers,” she added. The firing on the teenager set off violent clashes in Malaknag, KP Road and Sherpora area. Besides shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters also hurled rocks and stones on the forces. Forces lobbed several teargas canisters to disperse the stone pelting youth. At least ten people, reports said were injured in the clashes between protesters and the forces that continued till late evening.Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that four people were injured when some miscreants defied curfew this afternoon and pelted stones on forces in Khanpora area of Baramulla town and Malaknag area of Islamabad district. The spokesman also said that curfew was eased in phased manner across the Valley in the afternoon.