Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 27: Militants today killed a police man in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district while security forces foiled a protest march of seperatists to Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar by imposing curfew.
Police said that Selection Grade Constable, Khurshid Ahmad Ganie son of Abdul Aziz, was killed when militants fired at him at Koil in Pulwama this morning.
Ganie who was posted in District Police Lines Pulwama was leaving for duty this morning when gun men fired at him outside his house at Koil area of Pulwama from closed range. Militants fled after carrying out the attack. Senior police and security officials reached the spot to assess the situation.
A wreath laying ceremony of Ganie was held in DPL Pulwama where floral tributes were paid to the deceased. SP Pulwama Rayees Mohammad Bhat led the officer and jawans in paying the tributes to Ganie. The deceased policeman is survived by wife, 14 years old son and aged father.
In the meantime, body of a youth, who had drowned last evening while security forces were chasing protesters in Sangam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, was recovered today and security forces foiled march to Badami Bagh Army Cantonment by imposing strict curfew in Srinagar and in other towns of the Valley.
Body of Shahbaz Ahmad Khan, son of Mohammad Iqbal Khan of Dodo Mirhama in Bijbehara, was fished out from river Jhelum today. He had jumped into river Jhelum last evening after he along with other protesters were being chased away by security forces and they jumped into river. Two other youths managed to swim across the river but he drowned.
The death of the youth triggered protests in his native village and adjoining areas as people despite rains took to streets and staged protests. With Shahbaz’s death, the toll has gone up to 70 in Kashmir unrest including two cops.
Security forces today imposed strict curfew in Srinagar to thwart separatist march to Army’s 15 Chinar Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Sonwar area.
Security forces imposed curfew in old city, Maisuma and Batamaloo areas and closed all the roads leading to Badami Bagh Cantonment to foil separatist march.
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani defied his house arrest and tried to carry out protest march from his Hyderpora residence but police prevented him from marching ahead and detained him. He was shifted to Humhama police post. Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was arrested yesterday and shifted to Chesmashahi.
Curfew continued in Anantnag, Pampore, Pulwama and other townships but protests and clashes broke out at several places in Southern and Northern districts of Kashmir valley.
A dozen of protesters were injured after the security forces fired teargas and pellets to foil a rally in Bugam and Bolsoo villages of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. They said that the rally, however, was held despite security forces action.
Scores of people staged violent protests in Pattan town of Baramulla district against alleged ransacking of houses by security forces in the area. Security forces swung into action and fired teargas and pellets on protesters who pelted stones on them. Several protesters were injured in the clashes.
The violent clashes also broke out at old city here after withdrawal of security forces deployment in the evening. Reports said clashes also broke out at Kupwara areas between security forces and protesters.
Police said that barring five incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Shopian and Bandipora, overall situation remained peaceful and under control across Kashmir valley till filing of this report.
“The stone pelting incidents were reported from Barbugh, Hillow, Kadgam in Shopian, Sangam in Anantnag and Watpora, Potshah in Bandipora,” police said. They said some miscreants in order to disturb the situation assembled on roads and pelted stones on police and security force deployments.
The spokesman said restrictions under Section 144/CrPC remained in force in the Valley. “However, curfew was imposed in Srinagar city, Anantnag, Pulwama and Pampore towns,” he said.
Curfew and shutdown paralysed life in Kashmir for 50th day today. Shops, commercial establishments, education institutions and most of the banks remained closed. The Government offices including Civil Secretariat continued to witness low attendance.
The major roads in Kashmir remained blocked as protesters have erected barricades at several places.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 50th day today.
The prepaid mobile services and mobile internet services also remained blocked as precautionary measures to prevent violence.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel