Curfew, shutdown cripple life in Kashmir Valley

Situation peaceful: IGP

Srinagar, August 7: Curfew and restrictions continued to be imposed in several areas of the Kashmir Valley on Sunday to contain violence and protests, leaving the Valley paralysed for the 30th consecutive day.

Curfew continued in downtown and Batamaloo areas of Srinagar, while restrictions are in force in others parts of the district, officials here said. Elsewhere in the Valley, curfew remains enforced in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama town in South Kashmir and Kupwara town in the North.

At least three persons were injured in clashes between protesters and the police and para-military CRPF in Natipora locality on the outskirts of Srinagar city and Kawdara area of downtown late last evening. A 16-year-old boy, who had sustained pellet injuries in the clashes at Natipora, is undergoing treatment at the SMHS Hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable.

The trouble in Kashmir started following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant ‘commander' Burhan Wani along with his two associates in Kokernag area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir on July 8.

So far 55 persons, including 53 civilians and two policemen, have died and more than 6,000 others injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces.

The curfew and restrictions coupled with shutdowns called by the separatist organisations have paralysed normal life in the Valley for the last one month.

Baring two incidents of stone pelting where miscreants attacked security force deployments at Warpora and Nowpora in Sopore, the situation in the Valley remained peaceful.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir region, Javaid Mujtaba Gillani in a statement issued said since July 2016, 3329 personnel from JKP and CRPF have been injured while maintaining law and order in the Valley. Out of these injured personnel many have suffered grievous injuries including multiple fractures.

Besides two personnel from JKP were killed in the violent protests in the Valley.

In all 1018 incidents of violence were reported during this period. 1030 FIRs stands registered in different police stations of the Valley.

29 installations including police stations, police posts and other government establishments were set ablaze and 51 damaged by the protestors. More than 1000 accused persons have been arrested and bound down in different police stations of the Valley. (KNS)

Separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of the two factions of Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF led by Mohammad Yasin Malik, have been spearheading protest programmes against the killings in clashes in the Valley. They have already extended their protest shutdown till Friday (August 12).

Meanwhile, a bullet-ridden body of a youth, Bilal Ahmad Malik (23) from Dafferpora village, was found on the roadside between Wahbug and Chewa Kalan villages of Pulwama district early on Sunday morning. The family of the deceased, according to officials, said Bilal had gone to drop his brother-in-law at a nearby Kangan village last night.

The Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, said the cause of the death was being ascertained and added that there was no police or security forces deployed in the area during the night. He said a medical team has been sent to the village to conduct a post-mortem examination.

The separatists had called for sanitation and cleanliness drive under the guidance of local Masjid committees from 10 am to 4 pm in Mohalas, villages, localities and hospitals.

Besides observing complete shutdown, the people in several Srinagar areas launched sanitation and cleanliness drives.

Since the morning hours today, the people mostly youth assembled in the respective localities in Old city Srinagar and launched a sanitation and cleanliness drives as per the Hurriyat programme.