A youngster has drowned in River Jhelum after security forces allegedly chased away a group of protesters in Palpora area in Qamarwari in the outskirts of Srinagar triggering massive protests in the area. Scores of protesters were injured during clashes between protesters and the security forces in various areas across Valley.
The authorities have imposed restrictions under Sec 144 in several areas in old city and north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Kaloosa of Bandipora town and Natnussa area of Kupwara district besides some sensitive areas across the Valley to maintain law and order.
The authorities have already lifted curfew from all the areas of the Valley since August 31.
The normal life remained affected across Kashmir on 55th consecutive day. The security forces remained deployed in strength around the premises of State run broadcasters Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir besides and State’s Information department in view of separatists’ call for people to block all roads nearer to these institutions. The separatists have described these offices as “institutions of Indian State’s war propaganda machinery”.
“Three stone pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar and Kupwara, and one each from Anantnag, Shopian, Ganderbal, Budgam and Sopore. The overall situation remained under control till filing of this report,” police said in a statement.
Reports said that massive public rally was held at Trenz village in Shopian while similar rallies attended by hundreds of locals were organized at Shamsipora, Anantnag and Pakerpora area in Pulwama district. Despite raids, shelling, hundreds of people held pro-freedom rally in Furrah area of Anantnag while at least five persons sustained injuries in pre-rally clashes. At least 8 persons were injured during clashes when security forces foiled the ‘pro freedom’ rally at Badasgam village in the district.
Meanwhile, army and J&K police in a joint operation arrested two locally trained Hizbul Mujahideen militants from Pattan area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. They were identified as Parvez Ahmed Mir and Showkat Ahmed Ganaie - both residents of Andergam Pattan. A huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered from their possession that includes AK-47 rifle, UBGl, 2 AK-56 rifles, 40 mm Russian grenade launcher, four AK magazines and 40 mm grenade launcher.
Authorities have asked the cable TV operators from Kashmir to stop broadcasting five news channels namely KBC, Gulistan TV, Munsiff TV, JK Channel and Insaaf TV in Kashmir Valley. District Magistrate Srinagar in this regard has sent notices to all the concerned media network services. Expressing anguish over the government order, the operators of these channels alleged that the move to bar these channels had “dented the claims” about the improving situation in the Valley.
Sources said authorities shifted several Hurriyat Conference (G) leaders to Humhama Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC).