Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 14: Massive clashes erupted in many areas of Old City here after a youth hit by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle nearly a week ago at Parimpora succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura this morning while miscreants torched two schools, a Government building and two vehicles in Kashmir amid shutdown for 129th consecutive day today.
A youth, Rizwan Ahmad of Baghwanpora locality of Noorbagh, who was critically injured after being hit by an armoured vehicle of CRPF at Parimpora last week, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS hospital today.
As soon as the news of Rizwan’s death spread in Noorbagh, Sekkidafar, Eidgah and adjoining areas, hundreds of men and women, assembled at his residence and staged protests. Body of Rizwan was taken in a large demonstration towards Eidgah graveyard for funeral.
Amid charged atmosphere, the youth was laid to rest. Soon after burial of Rizwan, hundreds of youths took to streets at Eidgah, Waniyar and Nowpora and clashed with security forces. The clashes continued intermittently throughout the day in which several protesters sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, shutdown was observed across Kashmir valley during which situation largely remained peaceful barring some incidents in which miscreants torched two schools, an Agriculture building and two vehicles.
Police said that miscreants torched agriculture building at Batpora in Shopian district of South Kashmir today. The Fire tenders reached to the spot to douse the flames but the building suffered major damage.
Police said that miscreants torched Government Middle School Halpora Kokernag in district Anantnag today. The school was operating from a rented building and it was damaged in the fire.
Police said that miscreants torched Government High School Dacchan in Beerwah area of district Budgam this morning. The building was damaged in the fire.
Last night, miscreants set afire a private Scorpio vehicle bearing registration number JK01D 9640 at Harnag Anantnag. They also set afire car at Pazalpora in Bijbehara area of Anantnag this evening.
In the meantime, most of the shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and other offices remained closed across Kashmir. Heavy movement of private vehicles, mini-buses, auto-rickshaws and passenger cabs’ as well pedestrians was seen in civil line and uptown areas of Srinagar.
Hundreds of vendors had set up their stalls in Lal Chowk area and large numbers of shoppers were also seen buying winter garments. In Old City, hundreds of forces men were deployed in five police station areas of Srinagar’s Old City – MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Rainawari and Khanyar – since early morning. In Old City, there was however, civilian movement without any disruption in all these areas.
The vehicles on inter-district roads including passenger cabs’ were seen plying smoothly. The movement of passenger vehicles was observed on many civil lines routes.
Clashes erupted in Noorbagh, Nawa Kadal, Rajouri Kadal and Safa Kadal areas of downtown in the evening areas.