Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 23: Normal life continued to remain affected for the 107th consecutive day today in Kashmir due to separatist-sponsored strike while a truck, motor cycle of a cop and a school was torched.
Shops, business establishments and fuel stations remained shut in Kashmir today and public transport was off the roads. However, in the evening shops opened and there was movement of traffic on the roads.
A school building was damaged in fire in Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district this evening. The Government High School Aripanthan was partially damaged in a mysterious blaze today evening. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Reports said that it was torched by some masked men and police have registered a case and are investigating.
Some masked men also set ablaze a truck in Bijbehara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today. The truck was set ablaze on Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pazalpora area of Bijbehara and it was partially damaged.
A group of youth today torched motor cycle of a cop at Hassanpora in district Anantnag. The cop was stopped by the youth and thrashed and later the moter cycle was torched.
Clashes broke out in Dangerpora village of Sopore town in north Kashmir on this afternoon after the security forces foiled a protest rally. Security forces raided the village and fired teargas to disrupt the rally.
Clashes erupted in a village in Anantnag district of south Kashmir after security forces foiled a proposed protest march today.
Security forces fired teargas after people assembled for in Chee village of Anantnag for a protest march.
The situation in Nasrullahpora and adjacent villages of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district remained tense on the third day after a 21-year-old youth was killed due to heart attack during clashes on October 21.
Security forces were heavily deployed in the village and protesters clashed with Police. Several protesters were injured in the clashes.
Security forces carried out a mid-night raid in Maloora locality of Shalteng area in Srinagar outskirts last night. Several persons were arrested during the raid.
Security forces also arrested around a dozen persons from Barzulla area of Srinagar today.
In the meantime, acting on the application of SHO Tarzoo in North Kashmir, Chief Judicial Magistrate Sopore has issued arrest warrant against Abdul Gani Bhat, a Hurriyat Conference leader.
The application moved by SHO Tarzoo for issuance of arrest warrant under section 25 of the Police act over the FIR No 142/2016 under sections of 147,148,149,336,307,341,148 of RPC, was responded by the CJM Sopore in order authorizing “to arrest accused person and produce him before the court”.
The order by CJM Sopore further reads: “I am satisfied that above mentioned accused is involved in heinous offences and his arrest is necessary for the disposal of the case pending against him.”
Police tried to arrest him and in a bid to evade arrested Bhat jumped into river Jehlum and was later rescued by locals.