Three soldiers, including a junior officer, were injured when terrorists attacked an Army camp in north Kashmir as entire Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown on the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani.
The authorities imposed curfew in several sensitive localities in capital Srinagar and Burhan’s native town of Tral in south Kashmir. The separatists groups including United Jehad Council had called for a daylong shutdown to commemorate the anniversary. They have also issued a calendar of activities until July 13 that included a march towards Tral on Saturday to assemble at Burhan’s grave. However, the authorities foiled all attempts by the people to march towards the area.
Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with police and security forces on July 8 last year along-with two associates. The killing triggered an unprecedented public uprising that continued for more than five months. The authorities used force to quell the uprising resulting to death of around 90 protesters and by-standers and injuries to thousands of protesters and security personnel.
The day almost passed off peacefully barring half a dozen incidents of stone pelting and clashes between young protesters and security forces in various areas across Kashmir. At least 15 persons were reported injured during clashes in Shopian, langate (north Kashmir), Tral and few places in Srinagar city.
Sources said at least eight women were wounded when security forces fired pellet guns in Shopian area. The action was carried out to stop the “pro-Burhan Jehadi anthem” being played in a local mosque. One injured lady has been referred to Srinagar hospital.
Posters and graffiti exalting Burhan Wani and also Syed Salahuddin and Syed Ali Geelani came up in some parts of Srinagar, Anantnag and Kulgam areas in south Kashmir.
The heavy deployment of police and security forces in Tral, other south Kashmir areas with reports of Army flag march in south Kashmir’s Pulwama town and also in all sensitive areas in Srinagar, foiled the proposed march to Tral. No major untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley.
Hundreds of security personnel were deployed in Tral town, especially around the graveyard at Eidgah where Burhan is buried along-with dozens of militants and civilians killed during past 27 years in the area. A group of protesters assembled at Burhan’s home at Shariefabd but they were not allowed toi take out a procession. Minor clashes were reported from the township.
The authorities had clamped curfew in three towns- Tral, Shopian ( in south Kashmir) and north Kashmir’s Trehgam in Kupwara district and imposed restrictions on the movement of people in rest of the Valley to foil separatists’ plan to hold a rally to mark Burhan’s anniversary. Besides broadband the mobile internet connectivity remained suspended since Thursday (July 06) evening. Even mobile telephony services remained disrupted in Srinagar and other district headquarters. The authorities have placed most of the separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house-arrest.
All train services from Baramulla in north Kashmir via Srinagar, Anantnag, Qazigund sections upto Banihal junction in Jammu region remained suspended for security reasons for the second consecutive day. Reports of partial shutdown were also received from Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Banihal in Jammu region.
Meanwhile, three soldiers including a captain rank officer Pravin Kumar were injured when militants attacked an army camp in Hajin village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Sources said the attack was carried out at 3 am. The captain and two sepoys Ramesh Rawat and Brijesh belonging to 30 Rashtriya Rifles were shifted to hospital for treatment.