Protest demonstrations and security forces’ campaign to quell them continued in several parts of Kashmir on Tuesday even as no major untoward incident was reported amid a shutdown and officially imposed restrictions, which paralysed normal life for the 32nd consecutive day. Business activity and traffic movement resumed in civil lines areas of Srinagar and several towns after 6 pm in pursuance of separatists’ schedule.
Sources said that over a hundred protesters, including women, sustained injuries during clashes with security forces in south, north and Srinagar areas. Separate protest rallies of men and women were held in various areas of Kashmir amid massive deployment of security forces to foil the separatists’ call to hold ‘pro-freedom’ protests. The separatists have extended the shutdown call till August 12.
Curfew continued in Anantnag in south Kashmir and in areas under five old city police stations and Batmaloo police station in Srinagar. Curfew-like restrictions continued in Kupwara, langate, Kralgund, Handwara and some other areas in Kupwara district. Restrictions under Section 144 also continued in Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts. Similar restrictions continued in Budgam, Ganderbal, Sopore and Baramulla.
Sixty people from south Kashmir, 30 from Pattan in north Kashmir, 10 from Qamarwari Srinagar and 10 from lalpora lolab in Kupwara were injured after forces fired pellets and teargas shells.
A police spokesman said that three incidents of stone pelting by miscreants on police deployments in Awantipora, lalpora Kupwara and Ajas area of Bandipora District were reported. Reports said thousands of people defied curfew to hold protests in the premises of lalpora Grand Masjid in Kupwara district. Six persons sustained injuries in the clashes with security forces.