Normal life remained crippled in Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, four days after the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, but the situation showed signs of improvement with heavy security presence in sensitive areas.
Nevertheless, two civilians and a policeman died on Tuesday raising the death toll to 33 as reports of clashes between protesters and security forces surfaced in from various localities in south and north Kashmir.
More than 350 people, including over 115 security force personnel, have been injured in the clashes and militant attacks since last Friday.
A police spokesman said a mob in Kralpora, in north Kashmir’s Kupwara, set a police vehicle on fire while the policemen were still inside the vehicle, trapping them and leading to burn injuries. The policemen fired on the attackers that led to injuries to a 22-year-old man who later succumbed to his injuries. “While dealing with the incident one person was injured who later succumbed to his injuries,” the police spokesman said and added that the protesters also attacked a local police station in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, student of Zakir Husain College in Delhi University Amir Nazir lattoo, succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. lattoo, a resident of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s native town Baba Mohalla, Bijbehra, received bullet injuries during a protest in Zirpara Village late on Monday evening. His death triggered protests in Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s hometown.
Sources said that a group of protesters attempted to torch a security bunker housed in a migrant Pandit’s house at Batnag, Tral. They ransacked the police post meant for the protection of the migrants’ properties. Police opened fire on the protesters.
A police spokesman said that the situation in the Valley remained under control though some incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported.
“The stray and intermittent incidents of stone pelting were reported from Tral, Nowdal, Gadbugh, Batnag, Chindrigam, Shopian, Memander, Frisal, Yaripora, Ruhama, Rajpora, Newa Bijbehara, Goriwan, Exchange road Beerwa, Main Chowk Sopore, Warpora, Khanpora bridge, Baramulla, langate Trehgam, Popchan and Bandipora. Miscreants also set ablaze a police guard room at Gadbugh, a minority picket guard room at Batnag, Tral, and a guard room of police post Ruhama in Pulwama,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti appealed to the people of Kashmir to help the administration bring back peace and tranquilly to the region. In a message broadcast on official media, Mehbooba said that allegations of the use of force by the security forces would be probed, but at the same time it would be enquired as to how miscreants went from one place to another to instigate protesters to attack security installations.
However, National Conference working president Omar Abdullah raised questions on Jammu & Kashmir being “unrepresented” at a high-level meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to review the law and order situation in the State.
In a tweet, Omar said that Mehbooba’s presence at the meeting could have been ensured via video-conferencing.
“I understand if Mehbooba Mufti didn’t leave the State to attend (the meeting) but why not by video conferenceIJ State unrepresented,” Omar tweeted soon after the meeting began at 7 RCR.
Meanwhile, the Hizbul Muhjahideen has appointed Mehmood Ghaznavi as the new commander to replace Burhan Wani. In a statement to a local news gathering agency, the outfit said that its chief Syed Salahuddin announced in Muzaffarabad in Pak Occupied Kashmir that Ghaznavi would be the new Hizb commander in Kashmir.
Sources said that on Tuesday, thousands of people visited the slain militant’s home for the ritualistic fourth day ceremony. The locals had installed community food kitchens in the village and served food to thousands of visitors.