It was yet another tense Friday in Kashmir as a youth succumbed to his injury after being hit by a bullet in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Massive protests erupted in the Valley following a call by separatists to march towards the Eidgah in Srinagar where hundreds of civilians and militants, who have died during the last 27 years of insurgency in Kashmir, are buried in a cemetery.
Sources said that Shakeel Ahmad Ganai was hit by a bullet in the arm when security forces opened fire to disperse protesters at Haal Village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. With the fresh killing, the civilian death toll has mounted to 66 in the 49-day-long violent protests in the State.
Reports said at least 200 people were injured during clashes across the Valley. The protests erupted after the midday’s congregational prayers. The injuries took place at Sopore, Palhallan Pattan, Kupwara, Handwara, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag, Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehrea and Batmaloo in Srinagar.
The authorities foiled ‘Eidgah March’ programme called by the separatists after Friday prayers. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Agha Syed Hassan, Masroor Abbas Ansari were arrested after they tried to move towards Eidgah in old city. A spokesman of Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat said that Mirwaiz Farooq was taken to an undisclosed location after being whisked away by the police from his residence.
Meanwhile, the Army appealed to the people not to march towards its 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar in response to a call from the separatist leadership. The separatists in their latest “protest calendar” have called for a march towards Corps headquarters to call upon General officer Commanding (GOC) and urge him to quit Kashmir. The separatists have urged upon people to dispatch letters to Central Armed forces including Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF and march towards 15 Corps and “ask the GoC to vacate Jammu and Kashmir.”
The curfew remained imposed in Srinagar and Pulwama districts while south Kashmir towns of Shopian, Anantnag, north Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Pattan and Handwara and central Kashmir’s Ganderbal town were also under curfew. The restrictions under Sec 144 on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley. The night curfew continues in capital Srinagar since August 17.
Congregational prayers were not held at Srinagar Jamia Masjid and other central mosques in many towns on the 7th consecutive Friday.
Reports said clashes erupted in Sangam area of Anantnag and one among injured was rushed to Srinagar hospital. Clashes were reported from many places in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Reports of clashes and protests also poured in from Giraj, Kujjar, Fatehpora areas in Ganderbal district after congregational prayers. Reports said that peaceful protest rallies were also taken out at Manigam and Kangan.
Reports said that effigies of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were burnt at several places.
The normal life remained paralysed on the 49th consecutive day in the wake of the spontaneous protests and subsequent unrest following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani and his two associates on 8th of July in south Kashmir area. Hundreds of grievously injured persons with bullets, pellets and tear gas shells are being treated at various hospitals. Reports of scarcity of essentials including baby food and medicines in curfew bound areas across Kashmir are continuously pouring in. Mobile internet services continued to remain suspended since July 9 while outgoing calling facility is barred on prepaid mobile telephony.
Reports said Army had to call off its operation in south Kashmir’s Tral after hundreds of people pelted stones on troopers and helped a local militant to escape from the cordon. Many protesters were reported injured during clashes with the security forces. Clashes erupted in Shopian after Friday prayers. One among injured was shifted to Srinagar hospital. The Northern Commander lt gen DS Hooda had, last Friday, announced that counterinsurgency operations, temporarily suspended in south Kashmir due to current unrest, would be restarted in “real earnest”. This was the first such operation in south Kashmir area.
Reports said thousands of people participated in a pro-azaadi protest march after Friday prayers in North Kashmir’s Trehgam of Kupwara district. Clashes also took place in Hygam, Kanlibagh and Khawajabgh areas of Baramulla town after Friday prayers. Reports of peaceful protests were received from old town Baramulla. Following the rally, clashes between protesters and security forces erupted in Bandipora and Kaloosa in north Kashmir’s Bandipora.
The State police have also issued an appeal to people not take out rallies. A police statement said, ”It has been observed that militants make their presence in public protests and on many occasions resort to hurling of grenades and firing.”