A youngster was killed on Wednesday when security forces opened fire to disperse a group of protesters in north Kashmir’s Rafiabad area even as protesters torched the house of a ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Rajya Sabha member in Kulgam area of south Kashmir. Amid dozens of protest rallies in the Valley, the separatists issued another protest calendar ‘directing’ the people to continue anti-India stir across the Valley through the next week when an all-party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit the Valley on September 4.
Sources said that a 22-year college student Danish Manzoor was shot dead by security forces at Nadihal village of Rafiabad in Baramulla district early on Wednesday. People alleged that Army opened fire on a group of protesters leading to Manzoor’s death.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan in a statement said, “As per a report from the police, a mob of more than 900 people attacked an Army convoy at ladoora, Rafiabad and amidst stone pelting some fires were shot on the Army convoy on way to Kupwara. The Army fired some rounds in air to disperse the mob. In the incident 4 persons were injured and one of the injured identified as Danish Manzoor lone succumbed to injuries.” He said police have initiated investigation in the matter.
The death took place at a time when Northern Army Commander lt gen DS Hooda arrived in the valley, second time in as many weeks to review the security situation. Hooda called upon Governor NN Vohra to discuss the prevailing situation in the valley.
Sources said that around 180 persons have sustained injuries during protests and subsequent clashes between the protesters and the security forces across Kashmir Valley. In south Kashmir, over 100 persons sustained injuries at various places where protests demonstrations were held.
Sources said that house of ruling PDP’s MP Nazir Ahmad laway was attacked at Chawalgam village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. There was no family member present in the house. Reports said that four weapons
of the police guards were also looted.
Police raided the headquarters of prominent politico-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami at Batamaloo in capital Srinagar and arrested its political bureau head and spokesman Zahid Ali lone. The police have launched a massive crackdown against Jamaat activists believed to be the main force behind the current uprising.
The authorities also re-arrested Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) leaders including its president, Abdul Qayoom Wani and general secretary Farooq Ahmad Trali soon after they were released on bail. The government employees’ leaders were arrested last week when they held protests against the alleged highhandedness of the security forces and the government’s threats to the employees to resume their duties despite shutdowns and curfew.
Police also slapped Publ;ic Safety Act (PSA) against a senior Hurriyat leader GM Hubbi, who was arrested from central Kashmir’s Charar-e-Sharief area on August 24.
Meanwhile, normal life remained affected on the 54th consecutive day. While some private transport plied on uptown city roads and several employees of government departments and banks are joining duties since Monday, the majority of the employees are reportedly not attending to the duties. The main markets, shops, business establishments, educational institutions, universities remained closed. The public transport remained off the roads.
The night restrictions continued across Srinagar for the past about ten days.
The police and paramilitary forces personnel remained deployed in all sensitive areas to maintain law and order in view of today’s separatists’ call to occupy highways and inter-district roads and assemble from Banihal in Jammu region to Salamabad Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Meanwhile, the Northern Army Commander lt Gen DS Hooda called on Governor NN Vohra during his day-long visit to Kashmir valley and discussed the prevailing situation. The Governor was apprised about the measures taken by the Army along the line of Control and hinterland to ensure security as also to restore normalcy in Valley. Earlier, the Army Commander, accompanied by the XV Corps Commander, lt Gen Satish Dua, also visited Khanabal and Haiderbeg where he interacted with the officers and men and took firsthand account of the ground situation.
Meanwhile, a Kashmiri journalist working with TV news channel has resigned alleging that the channel was forcing him to prepare “fabricated anti-Kashmir reports”. Journalist Naseer Ahmed who was affiliated with Zee News Network for 16 years, had joined Noida based IBN7 Hindi news channel in November 2014.