Protests continued in Kashmir Valley on Saturday on day 50 of the current unrest as body of a youngster was fished out from River Jhelum in south Kashmir, who was allegedly chased away by security forces a day ago. On their part, suspected militants shot dead a policeman at his native village in Pulwama District when he was about to board his personal car to proceed on his duties.
Reports said that pro-azaadi protests were held in Sangam area of south Kashmir on Friday afternoon. Eyewitnesses said that three youngsters jumped into Jhelum River to “escape the wrath of security forces.” While two of them managed to reach the shores, the third remained untraced until on Saturday morning his body was fished out. The deceased was identified as 24-year-old Shahnawaz Khan of Dadoo Marhama area of Sangam. With Khan’s the death toll in current unrest in Kashmir that started after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, and completed 50 days on Saturday, reached 67. Two policemen have also died during the turmoil.
Earlier, suspected militants shot dead a Selection Grade Constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai on way to his office at Quil Pulwama. Police said that Ganai was about to board his vehicle when gunmen opened fire on him. He died instantly. The separatists spearheading the anti-India campaign in Kashmir, has threatened policemen and their families of consequences if they continued to “harm fellow Kashmiris”. The separatists have called for social boycott of the constabulary, its officers and Government officials running the media campaign for the authorities.
During the 50 days of turmoil thousands of people (over 12000 including 4500 security personnel) including security personnel have sustained injuries, several hundred civilians among these receiving pellet injuries in their eyes.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place in Srinagar District in view of separatists’ call to march towards Army’s XV Corps Headquarters at Badami Bagh. The corps headquarters if responsible for maintaining surveillance across the line of Control and counterinsurgency operations in the hinterland. The Army had already appealed people not to undertake the march. The separatists had asked people to dispatch letters to Central Armed forces including Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF and march towards XV Corps and “ask the General Officer Commanding to vacate Jammu & Kashmir.”
Ahead of Badami Bagh Cantonment march, senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was arrested last evening and has been lodged at sub-jail Cheshma Shahi in Srinagar. Octogenarian Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani was taken into custody, when he defied restrictions to march towards the cantonment in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, curfew was lifted from south Kashmir's Anantnag town after 49 days. However, the curfew continued in Srinagar district. The curfew remains imposed in south Kashmir towns of Pulwama and Pampore. The restrictions under Sec 144 on assembly of people also remained in force in rest of the Valley. The night curfew has been imposed in capital Srinagar since August 17.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani on Friday asked the security forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir to “read the writing on the wall and quit the State.”
“Even though your actions have killed one lakh people, disappeared 10,000 and orphaned more than 60,000 children to subdue us collectively and make us surrender our fundamental right of freedom, yet the emotion of love and reverence that martyrdom of commander Burhan Wani mobilized across and beyond Kashmir, should open your eyes,” Geelani wrote. “The more you strike us down, the more we shall rise with renewed determination and vigour. We are in the process of liberating our minds and the days of freedom are in sight,” Geelani said.