Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 3: A protester was killed in Qazigund area of South Kashmir while house of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) block president who facilitated visit of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to the village today was torched as curfew and shutdown paralysed life in the Valley for 56th day.
A protester, Basit Zargar, resident of Vessu Qazigund, was killed in pellet firing at Vessu in Kulgam district today taking the death toll in the clashes since July 8 to 73.
Protests today broke out at Vessu in Qazigund area of Kulgam. Police and CRPF fired tear smoke and pellets to disperse the mob during which several protesters were injured. Basit, who was critically injured, was shifted to District Hospital Anantnag where he was declared brought dead. The killing triggered further protests in the area.
A mob this afternoon torched the house of one Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh son of Ghulam Nabi at Batpora Wapora in Qazigund area of district Kulgam. He is block president of PDP and had reportedly facilitated the visit of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to Kund Warpora to meet the family of person who was killed in recent protests in security forces firing.
The authorities this morning imposed curfew in five police station areas of Srinagar’s Old City including in MR Gunj, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Nowhatta. Curfew was also imposed at Budgam and Sopore.
Police and CRPF were patrolling the streets of Old City where all roads were blocked by concertina wires and iron barricades. Curfew-like situation was also imposed in Batamaloo and Maisuma areas while rest of the Valley observed a complete shutdown.
Massive clashes erupted at Chattabal, Zampa Kadal and Habba Kadal areas of city here between security forces and protesters. The security forces fired pellets and teargas injuring several protesters.
Clashes also erupted at Pamposh Colony Parimpora during which a youth was injured. He has been identified as Danish Sheikh, son of Fayaz Sheikh. His condition is stable. The clashes also erupted at Old City after security forces’ deployments were withdrawn this evening.
Massive clashes were reported from Beerwah area of Budgam district during which over 20 protesters were injured as security forces fired pellets and teargas at the protesters.
In south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, massive clashes erupted at Mattan, Shangus and Achhabal as forces foiled a protest rally scheduled to be held at Ranipora village of the district. Reports said nearly 40 persons sustained injuries at these places while many others were thrashed by security forces.
The clashes also erupted at Gulshanpora, Tral in which a dozen persons were injured. Clashes were also reported from Memandar area of Shopian.
The north Kashmir’s Bandipora and Kupwara districts also witnessed stone-throwing clashes at several places including at Aloosa, Pethkut, Awoora and Trehgam. Locals of Awura alleged that security forces beat them and ransacked houses.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, curfew was lifted from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Baramulla districts and most parts of Srinagar today.
“However, curfew remained in force in the areas falling under the Police Stations of Maisuma, Batamaloo, Khanyar, Safakadal, Nowhatta, Rainawari and M R Gunj,” the statement said.
It said that 12 incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Sopore and Kupwara today. “At these places, miscreants assembled on the roads and attempted to disturb the normal traffic and movement of people by pelting stones on vehicles and on police and security force deployments,” the statement said.
“Barring these incidents of stray stone pelting, the overalll situation remained under control till filing of this report,” the statement said.
In the meantime, protests and clashes broke out at Lal Chowk after a body of youth was fished out from river Jhelum at Amira Kadal here this evening.
Body of a non-local man was fished out from Jhelum near Ganikhan market. Protests broke out in the area and his funeral was offered in Lal Chowk. Police reached the spot and snatched the body from protesters by firing teargas.
Follow our WhatsApp channel