Protests go on as Kashmir simmers

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 30

Demonstrations continued in various areas of the Valley while curfew remained in force in downtown Srinagar and major towns of Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama in south Kashmir today.

The areas falling under six police stations of Srinagar’s old city were under curfew while there were reports of stone-throwing from various areas of the city in the afternoon.

On the separatists’ call, people in several places offered afternoon prayers on the roads and paid tributes to the civilians killed during the ongoing unrest in the Valley. The prayers were offered in other parts of the Valley as well.

Protests were reported from various areas of Srinagar and its periphery. However, there were no reports of any clashes with police and security forces in these areas.

In south Kashmir, at least three persons, including a woman, received bullet injuries in the Imamsahib area of Shopian district due to police firing in clashes between protesters and police personnel.

There were no curfew restrictions in Shopian district today while Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam continued to remain under curfew.

People in large numbers offered prayers in various areas in the four districts of south Kashmir and there were reports of intermittent demonstrations throughout the day.

Stone-throwing incidents were reported from Pampore in Pulwama district, about 15 km from Srinagar. Police and CRPF personnel swung into action and chased away the stone-throwing youth while strict vigil was maintained to avoid any clashes in the area.

The hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for sit-ins, dharnas and special prayers for the first five days of August, with a march to Hazratbal on August 5.

Life across Kashmir had been paralysed for the past 22 days following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir on July 8.

The killing had triggered widespread protests across the Valley, resulting in the death of at least 46 civilians and two policemen.