Kashmir Valley remained in the grip of turbulence on Friday as fanned by Pakistan and separatists, violent protests continued against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 9 by the security forces.
In continued violence on Friday, militants hurled a grenade at a police station in Kulgam district of south Kashmir killing a Constable and injuring eight policemen. A youth Mushtaq Ahmed, was also killed during a demonstration in Dragmulla area of north Kashmir when the security forces fired to control a mob. Several protesters were injured in the retaliatory firing.
Till now 38 people have been killed and more than 350 people, including over 120 security force personnel have been injured in the clashes and militant attacks since last Friday.
A police spokesman said hundreds of people attacked a police station in Kulgam district of south Kashmir after midday congregational prayers. “As policemen lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse the stone-throwing mob, militants hiding in the crowd first hurled a grenade and then fired from an AK-47 rifle at the policemen. A policeman, Mudassir Ahmad, was killed and six others were injured in the militant-and-mob attack,” he said.
Earlier in the day, further needling India on the Kashmir issue, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a Cabinet meeting on Friday declared Burhan Wani a “martyr” and said July 19 will be observed as a “black day” to express “solidarity” with the people of Kashmir.
Spurred by this, the separatists have issued a fresh calendar of protests in the Valley diminishing any chances of peace returning to the region anytime soon. Separatist groups that had called for a bandh on Friday have extended the shutdown till Monday evening and asked the people to observe July 19 as a “black day” as per the programme announced by the Pakistani Government.
“People are urged to stage protests after evening prayers and raise pro-freedom slogans of right to self-determination,” a joint statement of separatist leaders said.
Meanwhile, reports of massive protests and subsequent clashes with security forces have poured in from Anantnag, Qazigund, Kokernag, Doru, Verinag and Aishmuqam pockets of south Kashmir.
Thousands of people assembled at the mosque in Tral where Burhan Wani was buried last week. Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani addressed the gathering telephonically. Sources said that a message from the Hizbul Mujahideen was read out at the gathering, asking the people to continue the “present movement”.
In capital Srinagar, youths set ablaze a policeman’s private vehicle and protests were taken out from Shivpora, Zampa Kadal and Natipora and Bemina. A civilian was injured at Manigam village in Ganderbal in pellet firing.
The authorities had clamped curfew in the entire Valley to thwart the separatists’ call for massive protests. The separatists had asked the people to offer funeral prayers for the slain Hizbul militants and the civilians who had died during the last one week.
Due to curfew, Friday’s congregational prayers were not held at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid where Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivers a weekly sermon. Farooq and other separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah have been put under house arrest or detained at police stations to prevent trouble.
Sources said that the shutdown was also observed in Doda and Khistwar districts of Chenab Valley. Sources said that security forces opened fire on protesters at Delina village in north Kashmir’s Barmulla district injuring two persons. The injured have been shifted to Srinagar for treatment.
“We protest purely on humanitarian grounds in solidarity with the innocent Kashmiris, who were brutally tortured and killed by the security forces after Burhan’s assassination,” Farooq Ahmed Kichloo, Imam of Jamia Masjid, Kishtwar said.
The authorities snapped communication network in the Valley that led to blockade of information flow.
At least 120 people with severe pellet injuries are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of Srinagar. Several pellet-wounded youths are on the verge of losing their eyesight.