Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 20: A man who was injured last week in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district today succumbed to injuries in a Srinagar hospital taking the death toll in recent violence to 43 while curfew and shut down continued for 12th day today.
Ghulam Mohammad, 55, son of Abdul Sattar, resident of Khumriyal in the frontier district of Kupwara was allegedly beaten up by security forces last week on Friday at Khumriyal, Kupwara after security forces firing on protesters in the area. He succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar today.
The residents said that after firing on protesters in Kupwara district last week, he was beaten up ruthlessly by security forces. However, police said that he was caught in stampede and injured badly. The death of the youth led to further protests in Kupwara where he was buried later in the evening.
“At least three youth were injured after security forces fired on protesters at Batnoor, Lassipora area of Pulwama district this afternoon. The protesters had blocked the road and they attacked security force vehicles with stones. The injured have been shifted to hospital,” he said.
A police spokesman said here today: “The situation remained under control throughout the Kashmir valley, though incidents of some stray stone pelting were reported. These incidents were reported from Nowpora in Sopore, Koundbal, Alesting in Ganderbal, Sangam in Anantnag, Kaloosa in Bandipora and Reck Chowk, Karan Nagar in Srinagar”.
In the meantime, curfew and shutdown in Kashmir valley entered 12th day today following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani on July 8.
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. The police and security forces took more stringent measures as there were apprehensions of violence following the observance of black day call given by Pakistan and supported by separatists.
There were minor incidents of stone pelting on the security forces at few places, but situation in Srinagar remained largely peaceful.
North Kashmir mostly remained peaceful today with Army patrolling several sensitive areas and they have established bunkers along the major roads and National Highway to prevent any escalation of violence.
There were stray incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Bijbehara and Pulwama in South Kashmir despite strict curfew.
The shops, business establishments, Government offices, banks remained closed and traffic was off the roads due to strike and curfew across Kashmir. However, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar today asked the Government employees to report to their duties and their identity cards will be treated as curfew passes wherever restrictions are imposed by the administration.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla are also suspended for 12th consecutive day today. All the roads and National Highway remained shut during the day. However, during the night the National Highway was open for traffic under tight security.
The mobile phone services and internet also remained shut while only BSNL postpaid and broad band 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.
In the meantime, the newspapers for the fifth consecutive day failed to hit stands in Kashmir valley despite Government statement that there is no ban on publication on newspapers. However, the newspapers will resume publications tomorrow after assurance given by the editors of the newspapers by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The assurance was given to the editors today in a meeting with Chief Minister. The editors later held a meeting and decided to resume the publications.
The separatists, meanwhile, today extended the strike call till Monday. In a joint statement issued by the chairmen of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Yasin Mailk said: “There would be relaxation in shutdown on Thursday from 2 pm till evening. Complete shutdown would be observed on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on Monday people from different parts of the Valley would march towards Anantnag.”
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