Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 1: A protester who was injured in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district during protests last month today succumbed to injuries at SKIMS while police arrested 51 persons including noted crowd puller cleric Moulana Sarjan Barkati.
A protester, Muzzafar Ahmad son of Mohammad Ramzan resident of Check-e-Kawoosa in Narbal area of Budgam district, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura hospital here today. He suffered multiple pellet injuries during the protests in the area on September 14.
He was operated in his left eye several times and was put on ventilator but he succumbed to his injuries today. Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers at his village in Budgam district today. The protests were held in the area after his funeral and police fired tear smoke to foil them.
A police spokesman said that to curb the activities of trouble mongers police arrested 51 such individuals involved in various offences of creating disturbances in different part of the Valley.
The arrested includes, Ummat-e-Islami senior leader, Moulana Sarjan Barkati. He was wanted for his fiery speeches and inciting people for protests. He was arrested at Wanpoh in district Anantnag while he was on way to Arwani. He was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Barkati was instrumental in organizing protest rallies in South Kashmir. Police conducted raids on Barkati’s house in Shopian several times.
Meanwhile, the curfew like restrictions continued in three police station areas of Srinagar’s Old City – MR Gunj, Nowhatta and Khanyar – since early morning. The other areas of the Old City were also under under restrictions. However, civilian movement without any disruption was allowed in these areas.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the situation across the Valley remained by and large peaceful today. “There was no curfew in any part of the Valley,” it said.
The statement said that during the day no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley. “There was greater movement of people and vehicular traffic observed in Srinagar city as also in other parts of the Valley,” it said.
In the evening, stone-throwing clashes erupted at many Old City areas during which security forces fired teargas and pepper gas to foil these protests.
In Civil Lines and uptown areas of the Srinagar, there was greater movement of private transport and pedestrians since morning. However, all shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and most of the banks were closed due to shutdown that paralysed life in Kashmir for 85th day today. Security forces were deployed at sensitive areas in strength. However, shops opened in the evening at around 5 p.m and large number of people poured into markets especially Lal Chowk.
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