Srinagar: One person was killed and another injured in fresh violence in Kashmir on Tuesday even as normal life remained disrupted for the 25th consecutive day due to strike called by separatists in the Valley.
With this the death toll has gone up to 50.
One person was killed and another injured when the personal security guard of a senior government official opened fire to ward off a mob which was trying to set ablaze the vehicle of the official, police said.
The incident took place at Lethpora area of Pulwama district on Srinagar-Jammu national Highway at around 8.30 pm, the police official said.
He said the government official, identified as Baburam, was stopped by a mob when he was on his way to Ramban in Jammu division and asked to alight from the vehicle.
As soon as the official and his personal security guard got off the vehicle, the mob tried to set it ablaze prompting the security personnel to open fire.
In another incident, a group of protesters pelted stones on a police station in Trehgam area of Kupwara district. The police personnel retaliated by firing tear-gas shells, resulting in injuries to three persons.
One of the injured was referred to a hospital here and his condition was stated to be critical.
Many shops and business establishments had opened after sundown on Monday as the separatists had announced a relaxation in the agitation programme to allow people to buy essentials in view of the prolonged shut down since July 9 in the Valley.
However, all markets remained closed today and public transport was off the roads in view of the strike call given by the separatists.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Kashmir Range, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told that the situation across South Kashmir remained peaceful throughout the day.
He said that at least 15 bikes were seized by the police along with several youth after scores of youth carried out bike rally in Ashmuqam area in this afternoon.
Bhat said that scores of youth carried out bike rally in the area while police swung into action to disperse the youth and seized at least 15 bikes along with scores of youth.
He said that from past two days, the vehicular movement was also witnessed from the either sides of the national highway.
Meanwhile reports said that Banihal town on Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
Curfew remained in force in six police station areas of the city, Anantnag town, Kokernag and Khanpora in Baramulla district as restrictions on assembly of four or more people continued in entire Kashmir, a police official said.
“Curfew is in place only in six police station areas of Srinagar city — Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal, Batamaloo and Maharajgunj,” he said.
