Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 18: Two persons were killed and four others injured when Army fired at protesters in South Kashmir’s Qazigund area this evening and Government shifted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) from relatively calm Budgam district.
Reports said that a group of protesters had blocked the road at Churat Qazigund in Kulgam district of South Kashmir today. The protesters pelted stones at few Army vehicles and the Army personnel fired at the protesters killing two of them identified as Shoukat Ahmad Itoo son of Ghulam Hassan Itoo and Sadia Begum wife of Ghulam Hassan Mir, residents of Churat in Qazigund area of district Kulgam on the spot and injuring four others. The condition, of the two of the four injured is stated to be critical. They have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment.
A police spokesman while giving details of the incident said here: “Today in the evening an Army mobile domination patrol party while moving towards Devsar tried to clear a road blockade erected by miscreants at Churat, Qazigund. The security force party while removing the obstructions came under heavy stone pelting by the miscreants from two sides. The Army party warned the mob to maintain distance but it did not relent. Some miscreants tried to snatch weapons from them and tried to set ablaze the vehicles. Despite repeated warnings the mob did not disperse and Army fired in self defence in an effort to move out from the spot. Six persons were injured, two of whom later succumbed to their injuries.”
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a youth club established by Army Chinar Corps that was completed last month and was yet to be inaugurated was torched by protesters last night. The club that was having a gym, computer center and a tutor lab was partially damaged.
At Nuso in Bandipora, Border Security Force (BSF) post known as Water Point which was established by BSF in 1969 was vacated today after repeated attacks by protesters during last nine days of violent protests.
Government today transferred Senior Superintendent of Police Budgam, Fayaz Ahmad Lone, to SDRF first battalion and posted Abdul Waheed at his place. The order (398-Home of 2016 dated 18-07-2016) was issued by the Principal Secretary to Home Department, R K Goyal today.
This is the first transfer that is related to the recent violence in Kashmir. Sources said that Lone was shifted for raiding the Printing Presses of newspapers in Rangreth and seizing the newspapers. The Budgam Police had, however, done it under the orders of the higher ups of the Police Department and Lone was said to be made scapegoat.
In Budgam district there has been not a single killing or bullet or pellet injury during last 10 days of violence when there have been protests at several places and a police post was also set ablaze in the district. Elsewhere in Valley over 41 people were killed and over 3400 have been injured including worst hit South Kashmir wherefrom not a single officer was shifted.
In the meantime, curfew and shutdown in Kashmir valley entered 10th day today after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani on July 8. Forty one persons including a police man have been killed in the protests that followed killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani and 3400 have been injured.
The parts of Srinagar were under strict curfew today. However, the movement of people in some areas of Civil Lines was allowed. Police and Para-military forces were patrolling the streets and they had blocked the roads, lanes and by-lanes with concertina wires.
There were minor incidents of stone pelting on the security forces at few places, however, situation in Srinagar remained largely peaceful.
In North Kashmir, there were few incidents of stone pelting at Gogloosa in Kupwara district, Sopore in district Baramulla and Hajan area of Bandipora district. The Army conducted patrols in North Kashmir and has established bunkers along the major roads and National Highway to prevent any escalation of violence.
The curfew in South Kashmir which has been epicenter of last 10 days of violence remained strictly enforced. There were stone pelting at few places including Khrew in Pulwama and Qazigund in Kulgam where 2 persons were killed and 4 injured in firing. The police, para-military forces were patrolling the streets to prevent escalation of violence.
A police spokesman said here today that the overall situation throughout Kashmir valley remained under control. “There was no report of any untoward incident from any part of the Valley. However, stray incidents of stone pelting were received from Hajin in Bandipora, Gogloosa Payeen in Kupwara, Kondbal, Mansbal in Ganderbal, Batamaloo in Srinagar and Khrew in Awantipora”, he said.
“A few persons and police/CRPF men were injured in these incidents. A base camp store of potato seed belonging to Agriculture Department was set on fire in Wouhlutra, Rafiabad by miscreants”, he added.
The newspapers for the third consecutive day failed to hit stands in Kashmir as Government stopped their publications as a precautionary measure to prevent escalation of violence. Police raided printing presses of newspapers in Rangreth and Sheikhpora in Budgam district on Saturday morning and asked the publishers to stop publication. The curbs on the newspapers may continue till there is improvement in situation.
The mobile phone services and internet also remained shut while only BSNL postpaid and broadband internet and landlines have remained unaffected. These services are mostly used for communication by police, security forces and Government officials. The authorities have already made it clear that the cellular services would be restored only after there are signs of improvement in situation.
The shops, business establishments, Government offices and banks remained closed and traffic was off the roads due to strike and curfew across Kashmir. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla are also suspended for 10th consecutive day today. The continued curfew and strikes have led to crisis of food and essential commodities in Kashmir.
The separatists have meanwhile extended the strike across Kashmir against the killing of protests till Friday.
A joint statement issued here, by the chairmen of two factions of Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik, said: “As such in continuation with the protest program on July 19th and 20th there will be a complete shutdown and July 20th will be observed as black day. On 21st July, shutdown will continue till 2 pm. Again there will be a complete shutdown on Friday, the 21st of July and post Friday prayers peaceful protest will be held in all mosques across the State.”
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