The death toll in the ongoing cycle of violence on Sunday reached 44 with one more civilian’s death reported from the north Kashmir district of Bandipora. According to preliminary reports large number of local youth targeted Army camp near Ajas in Saderkote area of Bandipora late on Sunday evening where security forces opened fire injuring at least four protesters. One of the youth later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital while three others were undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, overall situation remained tense but under control across different parts of Kashmir Valley.
Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from Kunzer in Baramulla, Eidgah in Srinagar and Sadarkote Bala in Bandipora during the day in which several security personnel and local protesters received injuries.
Newspapers published from Kashmir valley failed to hit the stands for the second consecutive day after the state govt desperately tried to gag the media. Cable TV and internet services also remained crippled while normal life has been hit hard due to strict imposition of curfew for ninth consecutive day.
Keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation the State Govt has also decided to extend the summer break of educational institutions till July 24 across Kashmir valley.
Several exams and interview schedules have already been postponed by various institutions and Public service commission. Students who recently enrolled themselves for admission in the National Institute of Technology ,NIT Srinagar are also nervous as they have been directed to report in the campus between July 22-26.
Amarnath yatra has also declined partially due to prevailing situation in the valley. On Sunday around 4,500 pilgrims performed darshan via Baltal route. So far 1.72 lakh pilgrims have offered special prayers inside the holy cave.
The yatra is bound to witness steep decline in the coming days as 'ice lingam' has vanished inside the cave shrine due to heavy foot fall in the first two weeks of yatra.
On the other hand two member team of central congress leadership landed in Srinagar to take stock of the situation.
Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid was accompanied by AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni.
After holding consultations with the local leaders Salman Khurshid interacted with the media where he called for holding an All Party Meeting for taking the concrete steps to ensure peace in Kashmir.
Khurshid said troops in Kashmir are resorting to disproportionate use of forces while dealing with the protesters and the “set rules for forces” seem to have disappeared.
He said that BJP-led Government at the Centre is in a denial mode and doesn’t want to take the other parties with experience of dealing with difficult situations on board. He said that it was unfortunate to hear about young people losing their vision due to pellets.
“Forces seem to be resorting to disproportionate use of force while dealing with the protestors. There are set rules for dealing with crowds, such things seem to have disappeared in Kashmir,” Khurshid said.