Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 9: After the killing of a Panchayat member in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district last evening, around two dozen Panchayat members today disassociated themselves from Panchayats.
Reports said that Panchayat members of villages of Chowgam, Naidkhun, Qiamu, Qau, Qazigund in district Kulgam today announced their disassociation from the local Panchayats.
The killing of NC worker and Panch Gul Mohammad Bhat at Wanpo in district Kulgam last evening led to this fresh wave of disassociation of Panchayat members from the Panchayats.
Earlier, scores of Panchayat members had announced their disassociation from Panchayats in Pulwama and Tral areas after militants killed two Sarpanchs last month in these areas ahead of polls in South Kashmir.
Parts of Kashmir valley observed a spontaneous shutdown and clashes between police and protesters against the arrests of youth on charges of stone pelting.
Sopore in North Kashmir observed shutdown for the second consecutive day today against the arrests of youth on charges of stone pelting. All the shops, business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed in the town.
Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from Main Chowk and Arampora in the morning. However, police and CRPF chased away youth and situation returned to normal. Police and CRPF were heavily deployed to curb protests.
In Bandipora area, a shutdown was also observed against the detentions of youth. The shops and other business establishments remained closed in the town. There were stray incidents of stone pelting after Friday prayers.
A protest march was taken out after Friday prayers at Hajin town in Bandipora against the arrest of youth. Protesters raising slogans against Government demanded immediate release of detained youth.
In southern Tral town of South Kashmir there were minor clashes between stone pelters and police and CRPF after Friday prayers and the town observed shutdown against killing of a militant.
And traders in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district today called for an indefinite strike in protest against what they alleged police excesses and damage to property during nocturnal raids in the Old Town Baramulla.
The Baramulla Beopar Mandal called for indefinite shutdown in the town which began today with all the shops and business establishments shut. The trade body has demanded release of detained youth.
The markets of Baramulla town remained shut with traffic off the roads while clashes also broke out at Cement Bridge. There was huge deployment of police and paramilitary forces in all the markets of the town while police had erected concertina wires on Cement Bridge restricting the movement of civilians.
DIG Baramulla Ghulam Hassan Bhat said that police raided only the houses of chronic stone pelters who have held whole Baramulla town hostage. He said denied harassment of the people in nocturnal raids and damage to the properties by police.
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