On a day when Army chief General Dalbir Singh hinted at launching an operation in south Kashmir to curb the ongoing protests, dozens of protest rallies were carried out in Kashmir Valley, as normal life continued to remain paralysed on the 63rd consecutive day and the ninth Friday was marked with showdown between protesters and the security forces.
At least 130 people were reportedly injured during clashes though no major untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley.
In the backdrop of unrelenting public protests, the Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh again visited line of Control formations and units in North and South Kashmir. He was accompanied by the Northern Army Commander lt-Gen DS Hooda and the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Commander lt-Gen Satish Dua. Gen Dalbir reviewed the security situation and collaborative measures of security forces towards ensuring peace and calm in the region. He directed to ensure strict vigil along the loC.
later, the Army chief was briefed by the XV Corps Commander on the numerous initiatives undertaken by the Army all across the Valley to bring about peace. Gen Dalbir reinforced the need to synergise efforts with all other stakeholders and assured all support for bringing normalcy. Sources said that Gen Dalbir stressed the need to augment operational activities by the Army to stem the public uprising particularly in all south Kashmir areas. The chief also briefed the Governor NN Vohra on the prevailing situation and initiatives taken to manage the situation. He also interacted with the State Police chief K Rajendra. Sources said the authorities are mulling a strategy to stem public protests before the Eid-ul-Azha that falls on September 13. The separatists have announced to continue protests on Eid eve.
Authorities disallowed Friday prayers for the 09th consecutive week at the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. Curfew was imposed in the area on the movement of people to prevent them from participating in pro-freedom protests. A large number of people tried to take out a march after Friday prayers at Dargah Hazratbal Shrine. Police and security forces fired many tear smoke canisters to disperse the protesters.
At least 50 people were injured in south Kashmir, with more than 30 persons injured in Sopore, over 20 in Kupwara, 11 in Bandipora, 12 each in Palhallan and Baramulla areas. In Srinagar a peaceful rally was reported from old city’s Rajouri Kadal area in the evening. later clashes were reported from Khanyar, Rajouri Kadal and Saraf Kadal areas.
In a significant development with far reaching impact on the political landscape of the State, the octogenarian separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani accused the government of devising a “kill list” to target “pro-freedom leaders and activists and those civil society members, business leaders, Government employees and journalists, who have not succumbed to their machinations.” In a statement, released after police foiled his attempt to address a press conference at his Srinagar residence, Geelani said that the list has been devised after the current phase of the “freedom struggle unnerved India and its local stooges”.
He said that this was a very serious issue warned that any such misadventure will have serious repercussions. Geelani alleged that “a group of unknown gunmen is being readied for the task.” Mirwaiz led Hurriyat has also expressed serious concerns over revelation of devising the “kill list”.
Separatists issued a fresh protest calendar extending the shutdown and protests till September 16. A protest march has been called to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Srinagar city on September 13, the day Muslims would be celebrating Eid-ul-Azha.