Three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured when militants attacked a camp camp at Karnah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara District on Friday. Even as the normal life remained crippled throughout Kashmir Valley for the 42nd consecutive day, there was no major incident of clashes between protesters and security forces, a norm that was prevalent for the past five Fridays.
Sources said the militants attacked the BSF’s ammunition depot in Karnah on Friday afternoon injuring three personnel. The injured were airlifted to Srinagar for treatment.
The militants hurled a grenade at the house of Opposition National Conference leader and former MlA Shopian Sheikh Rafi late on Thursday night. Reports said that the grenade was lobbed at Sheikh’s house in Kachdoora Village of south Kashmir’s Shopian District but it exploded without causing any damage.
Night curfew imposed in Srinagar District since Wednesday night continued, while restrictions have already been imposed on the movement of people, public and goods transport during late evening and night hours in north Kashmir’s Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara areas.
The curfew continued in Srinagar District, Baramulla, Kaloosa in Bandipora and in the towns of Anantnag, Shopian and Pampore with curfew-like restrictions in other major towns and areas in south, central and north Kashmir.
Authorities foiled a 72 hour sit-in and march towards United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Office in Srinagar. Elaborate security arrangements had been made and all roads leading to UNMOGIP Office were sealed from all sides in view of a call given by the separatists. The authorities had put in place strict restrictions since Tuesday evening in the area. Check-points had been established at all points leading to lal Chowk and Sonwar.
All senior and junior separatist leaders continued to remain under preventive detention for the last 42 days. The separatists have issued fresh protest programme and extended the strike call till August 25.
A police statement said, “21 incidents of stone pelting were reported after Friday prayers from Sopore, Shopian, Kulgam, Baramulla, Handwara, Bandipora and Pulwama.”
Reports said over a dozen people were injured, one of them critically, in clashes that erupted in various areas of South Kashmir after Friday prayers. A youth sustained critical pellet injuries in the security forces’ action in Kakapora area of Pulwama. He has been referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment. Clashes were reported from several villages of twin districts of Kulgam and Shopian.
Reports said that more than a dozen people were injured after the security forces fired pellets and used tear-gas shells to quell the demonstration in north Kashmir's Palhallan area. Two youth were injured during the clashes that followed after a protest rally was held in north Kashmir’s Bandipora District.