Another civilian, who was injured in security forces’ action against protesters, succumbed to injuries in a Srinagar hospital on Monday though a comparatively lesser number of clashes took place during the day across the Valley. Normal life remained crippled throughout the Valley for the 31st consecutive day since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that triggered massive public protests across Kashmir.
Police said no major untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley barring five minor incidents of stone-pelting in Anantnag, Sopore and Bandipora districts.
The 17-year-old Aamir Bashir lone succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in the wee hours. A resident of Sedaw village in Shopian, lone was admitted to the hospital on Friday last after he got injured with pellets. Doctors said that lone’s body was perforated with pellets and some of them had entered into his brain. With his death, the toll in Kashmir has mounted to 54 civilians. Two policemen have also died in the clashes so far.
The curfew and restrictions under Section 144 RPC continued in many parts of south, central and north Kashmir districts and parts of Srinagar city. Separatists had asked people to block roads leading to the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, District administrative and Tehsil offices to block movement of Government employees from attending the offices. The separatists have extended the shutdown call till August 12.
The curfew continued in Khan Sahib and Chadoora towns of central Kashmir’s Budgam district and Anantnag town in South Kashmir. The curfew will remain in force in Kupwara, langate, Handwara, Trehgam, Kralpora and some other areas in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The curfew like restrictions will continue in areas under five old city police stations and areas under Batmaloo police station in uptown Srinagar besides besides Baramulla, Pattan and Sopore towns in north Kashmir.
In Srinagar, main Opposition National Conference staged a march against the civilian killings, mass arrests and demanded initiation of dialogue process. The NC leaders later clashed with police personnel who stopped their march on Residency Road. Senior legislator Ali Muhammad Sagar said that the present Government has lost moral authority to rule the state after the killing of civilians in Kashmir. The NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted that it took CM Mehbooba Mufti 31 days and more than 50 deaths to finally gave up on her ‘business as usual’ act and rushed to Delhi instead.
Reports said that seven civilians including two women were injured after clashes erupted at semthan village in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir. The security forces allegedly fired pellets to break up the demonstration against alleged excesses by police and security forces.
Reports said two grievously injured persons including a woman sustaining pellet injuries in eyes, were referred to Srinagar hospital for advanced treatment. Police have denied the allegations saying miscreants resorted to stone pelting in which 12 police and security personnel were injured while 2 persons were referred to Srinagar hospital. low intensity evening clashes were reported from Rainawari and Dalgate areas of Srinagar
Protests erupted in north Kashmir’s Sumbal area after Army Casper vehicle hit a car killing a civilian Muhammad Ashraf Mir on the spot near Wangipora area. An FIR has been lodged while driver was arrested and vehicle seized.
The mobile internet services continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley on 31st consecutive day while the outgoing facility on prepaid connections is barred.
Meanwhile, over 2 lakh 18, 300 yatris had darshan of ice lingam at the Holy Amarnath cave so far as around 500 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave on Monday. The pilgrimage would officially culminate on August 18 but the footfall has already lessened to a trickle.