Jamia Masjid Chalo: Curfew, restrictions across Valley
Srinagar, July 29: 19 protesters were injured in fresh clashes between security forces and protesters in several parts of the Kashmir Valley following violent protests after Friday congregational prayers.
Nine protesters who were injured due to firing pellets and bullets were admitted in till 6 pm SMHS and Bone and Joints hospital.
Doctors in the hospital said that among the injured included one youth from Mehjoor Nagar, Alochi Bagh, Dalgate, three from Peerbagh in Srinagar city, while three injured were admitted from Samboora (1), in Pulwama and Shopian (2). One injured was admitted from Kreeri, Baramulla.
“Of the injured seven were admitted to SMHS and two in B & J hospital,” the doctors said.
Authorities on Friday imposed strict curfew and restrictions across Kashmir valley to foil Jamia Masjid march called by the separatist leaders, while violent clashes broke out in several areas across Kashmir valley after Friday congregational prayers in which scores of protesters sustained injuries.
The Jamia chalo was reportedly called by separatists including Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Large contingent of JK Police and CRPF were deployed on roads and all the entry and exit points of old city were blocked with concertina wires and other barricades, witnesses said.
Mob came out from the mosques was raising Pro-Pakistan and ‘Azadi' slogans and tried to march towards UN office to submit a memorandum but police and CRPF swung into action to disperse them. Clashes broke out as police fired teargas shells to disperse and protestors.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone told that the situation across Srinagar remained “peaceful” throughout the day.
Over a dozen of protestors sustained injuries during the clashes between youth and forces in different areas across Kashmir.
“Four protesters with injuries in Trehgam, Kupwara were admitted. Two others were injured in Kuligam area of Lolab. Some among the injured persons were shifted to Kupwara hospital while some were referred to Srinagar's SMHS hospital,” he said.
Reports of protests were also reported from other Kupwara areas including Lalpora, Regipora, Trehgam, Gushe, Hatmulla, Kawari, Nagri, Vadhpora and Kralpora.
As soon as the Friday congregational prayers ended in the local Mosques, people staged protests against the government.
Clashes were also erupted in Delina area of Baramulla during which two person's sustained injuries. “One among the injured was shifted to Srinagar's Bone and Joint hospital while the other has shifted to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Baramulla,” witnesses said.
Clashes also erupted at some places in Bandipora district.
Deputy inspector General Police (DIG), Baramulla-Kupwara Range, Uttam Chand told that barring minor stone pelting incidents, the situation across the two districts remained peaceful.
Clashes also broke out at several places in district Shopian after Friday congregational prayers. Three protestors were injured, police said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Anatnag-Pulwama Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told that minor clashes between Police and protesters erupted at few places but the situation remained under control.
He said that clashes took place in Sangam, Naina, Srigufwara, Bijbehara, Keegam, Kakapora, Tahab and Chodrigund in Pulwama.
The senior police officer said that two protesters received minor injuries in legs or back due to pellets in Imam Sahib in Shopian district. “They were treated in local hospitals and are stable now,” he said.
On the reports of pushing by police in river Jehlum of two youth from Sangam Bridge on Thursday, the DIG said that the youth were protesting and police chased them away to disperse them. Police did not fire teargas shell or pellets on them, he said.
“One of the youth jumped on the bank of the river on his own. He was injured in his leg and was shifted to Bones and Joints hospital. No policeman pushed him into the river. Had the youth been pushed into the river, his clothes could have been wet. But they were dry when he was rushed to the hospital,” he said.
