Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 15: For the second consecutive day today, curfew in Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir paralysed life in the Valley while at least one dozen protestors and half a dozen security force personnel were injured in clashes that broke out after Friday prayers.
Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley remained under strict curfew for second day today after the killing of a man in Srinagar’s old city area in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) firing on Wednesday. Barring few incidents of stone pelting and protests after Friday prayers situation across Kashmir valley remained peaceful.
Curfew was imposed in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Sopore, Pulwama, Pampore, Awantipora, Tral, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Mattan, Kulgam and Shopian towns on Wednesday as authorities apprehended trouble in Kashmir valley in the aftermath of killing of a man in Srinagar.
Altaf Ahmad, a close associate of Speaker of the Assembly, Mubarak Gul and worker of ruling National Conference was killed as CRPF men fired after they came under stone pelting attack in Zoonimar area of Srinagar on Wednesday.
Major roads across Kashmir were blocked with steel barricades and coils of concertina razor wire to prevent any movement of vehicles and people. However, in Civil lines areas of Srinagar police deployed at the barricades allowed movement of people and vehicles who were facing emergencies.
Reports of protests amid clashes between protestors were received from Kupwara and Langate in north Kashmir with forces resorting to baton charge and tear smoke shelling to disperse the protestors and stone peltors.
Peaceful protests were reported from Natnoosa Langate, Kralpora, Lalpora, Trehgam and Rafiabad. Clashes broke at Langate in which half dozen protestors including SHO Handwara Shakeel Ahmad and one dozen policemen were injured.
Clashes also broke out at Cement and Chattipadshai Bridges in Baramulla and Chinkipora and Patapora Sopore between protesters and security forces.
People at Muran Chowk and Rajpora in South Kashmir district held protest demonstrations against the arrest of local youth Asraarullah of Dangerpora Pulwama.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon said that the situation across the Valley remained largely peaceful and under control. “No curfew will be imposed on Saturday. But restrictions will be put in place in downtown area”, he added.
Meanwhile police today arrested Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani from his Hyderpora residence and was lodged at Humhama police station.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberations Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik continue to remain under strict house detention at their respective residences.
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