Protests, shutdown and clashes continued in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as thousands of police and paramilitary personnel deployed in sensitive parts of valley struggled for the 27th consecutive days to restore peace and order in the embattled region. Even as the State Government attempted to paint a semblance of normalcy by issuing official Press releases on meetings held by several Ministers, the ground situation remained grim in the capital Srinagar and most parts of the countryside. Northern Commander lt Gen DS Hooda called upon Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to discuss the prevailing law and order situation.
While the street protests continued in various parts of Kashmir, the High Court upheld a subordinate court’s verdict to file a case against a middle rung police officer accused of “cold-blooded murder” of a youngster in capital Srinagar in front of his parents.
The court dismissed the State Government’s plea against the order of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar that had asked the police to lodge FIR against Dy SP Yasir Qadri and his policemen accused in the murder of a youngster Shabir Ahmad Mir, a resident of Tengpora Batmaloo inside his home on July 10. The verdict was announced by a single bench of the court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir. “Registration of second FIR is permissible,” Justice Mir observed. The police have already registered an FIR in the matter and referred the deceased youngster as involved in stone-pelting in the area.
The normal life remained paralyzed across the valley on 27th consecutive day. Officials said the curfew remained in force in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Shopian towns while the restrictions under Sec 144 RPC remained in force in all other remaining areas in four south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag. The curfew like restrictions also continued in areas under seven police stations of capital Srinagar, Ganderbal and some other central Kashmir areas. No major untoward incident was reported from any part of Kashmir Valley.