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Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 18: After remaining suspended for over four months, the post-paid mobile services were restored in Kashmir valley tonight, following improvement in security situation.
The mobile internet services were snapped on July 8 of this year following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight in Bumdoora village of Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
And with the improvement in the situation in the Valley, the postpaid mobile internet services were restored tonight. The decision to restore the prepaid mobile internet services was taken recently and it was implemented tonight.
On October 14, prepaid mobile phone services were restored across Kashmir after remaining suspended for 98 days. However, mobile Internet services continued to remain suspended.
In the meantime, authorities today imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and prevented Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar for 19th consecutive Friday while militants tonight ransacked houses of People’s Democratic Party workers at Shopian and beat up Principal of Army Goodwill School Balpora.
Militants this evening barged into houses of PDP workers at Gania Mohalla, Maminder in Shopian and ransacked their houses. Sources said that a group of militants barged into houses of two PDP workers at Shopian and ransacked their houses. They also fired in air to cause scare in the village. However, the PDP workers were not at home at the time of the incident.
Militants also beat up Aijaz Ahmad, Principal Army Goodwill School Balpora, at Maminder in Shopian area of South Kashmir.
In Srinagar, Police arrested two persons from Barbar Shah area, who hurled two petrol bombs at police this afternoon. Police said that two persons who came in a Santro car bearing registration number JK01N 5722 hurled two petrol bombs at police at Barbar Shah this afternoon and tried to run away. However, police chased them and arrested the duo. They have been identified as Waseem Ahmad Marazi son of Abdul Khaliq and Shahid Yaseen residents of Barbar Shah, Srinagar.
Police said that miscreants last night torched an auto rickshaw bearing registration number JK01 E 7082 at Rang Haman Nowhatta in old city area of Srinagar.
Police said miscreants torched Government Primary School at Regipora Kupwara last evening. The school building was damaged in the fire. They said that miscreants pelted stones at Middle School Gujjar Pati Sogam in district Kupwara damaging its windows.
They said that miscreants torched KR General Store at Beehama in district Ganderbal last night. The shop suffered damages in the fire.
Police also arrested a senior Huriyat Conference leader Hafizullah Mir from South Kashmir. He was wanted by police for fomenting trouble and was evading arrest.
In the meantime, Government today disallowed Friday prayers for the 19th consecutive week by imposing restrictions in Old City areas of Srinagar.
Independent MLA Langate, Abdul Rasheed Sheikh, was today detained for defying the restrictions and driving towards Jamia Masjid Srinagar to offer Friday prayers.
Rasheed along with his workers was stopped by a contingent of police and paramilitary forces near the Jamia Masjid gate. They were taken to the Police Station Nowhatta and later released.
Authorities imposed strict restrictions in entire downtown areas falling under five police station areas. Since early morning, thousands of police and CRPF men were deployed all across Srinagar and all roads leading to Jamia Masjid were sealed with concertina wires. Restrictions were also imposed in in Habba Kadal, Kani Kadal, Gaw Kadal and Maisuma areas of Srinagar.
Clashes erupted between youth and security forces at Rawalpora and Safa Kadal areas of Srinagar after Friday prayers. Soon after Friday prayers, scores of youth took to streets and held protests. Security forces retaliated by firing teargas and pepper gas.
Clashes and protests amid restrictions and lockdown were reported from Tahab, Newa and Rohmoo areas of Pulwama district in south Kashmir. Clashes were also reported from Anantnag, Shopian, Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Palhallan areas of North Kashmir during which few people were injured.
A police official said barring few incidents of stone-pelting, the situation across Kashmir remained peaceful. He said prayers at Jamia Masjid Shopian were allowed this Friday.
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