Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 3: The authorities today imposed curfew like restrictions in parts of Bandipora district to foil Markundal march call of Huriyat Conference.
Despite the tough security restrictions, clashes erupted at various areas of Kashmir valley between youths and police against the killing of two youths on Sunday.
Senior Separatist leaders including Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, Democratic Party Chairman, Shabir Ahmad Shah and others were placed under house arrest to prevent them from going to Markundal and Kondebal to attend the condolence and prayer rallies of Irfan Ahmad Ganaie and Tariq Ahmad Leharwal.
A complete shutdown was observed on the fourth consecutive day today at Bandipora, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Hajan, Lar Ganderbal, Palhalan and various other areas of North Kashmir against the killing of two youths.
Shops, schools, colleges and business establishments remained closed at most of these places, while as public transport was off the roads. The attendances in Government offices and banks were very thin. However, public transport was plying normal in other party of Valley.
Authorities imposed undeclared curfew at Naidkhai, Sumbal, Hajan, Markundal and imposed strict restrictions at Bandipora, Ajas, Safapora, Palhalan, Ganderbal and various other areas of Kashmir valley to foil the Markundal call given by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
The hundreds of police and CRPF men were deployed in these towns to foil the march. The police and CRPF also laid razor wires and barricades at almost all the main roads and junctions leading to Markundal and Kondebal villages.
Scores of youths pelted stones at main town Sopore, Palhalan and various other areas of north Kashmir towards the police and CRPF. The forces also lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
However, the protesters gave a stiff resistance to the police and other security forces, forcing them deploy more personnel in Palhalan.
Police managed to control the situation, but the youths were pelting stones in small groups towards the forces. During these clashes more than a dozen youths and force personnel also got injured.
In a similar incident, a group of youth tried to take out a protest rally near Kurhama (Ganderbal) on Srinagar-Lar bypass towards the Kondebal Ganderbal, the native village of Tariq Ahmad Leharwal, but the heavy contingent of police and CRPF deployed in the areas stopped their way and did not allow the protest to proceed.
The police action was responded by the youth with stones and bricks and shouted slogans against Army, Police and State Government. The security men also lobbed dozens of tear smoke shells. In these clashes also few people got injured.
Outside General Bus stand Batmaloo and at fruit Mandi Parimpora some youth pelted stones towards police, but the heavy contingents of police chased these youths and brought the situation under control.
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