Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 11: With nine more civilians succumbing to their injuries in the different hospitals in the valley the death toll in the violence that started following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani reached 30.
In the meantime, protests broke out in the various areas of the Kashmir valley against the death of Burhan. Groups of agitators mostly comprising of youth took to streets in the different areas of the valley and carried out protests against the killing of HM Commander. The protesters pelted stones on the police and security forces personnel with the same being retaliated by lobbing of smoke shells. Reports said that at some places police and security forces opened fire on the protesters leading to injuries to some other persons. However, as compared to the past two days the situation was comparatively better with no fatal casualty reported by the time this report was filed. The number of people injured during the past three days has reached more than 300 with most of them receiving treatment in city and district hospitals.
In the Srinagar city protests were reported from Barzulla, Hyderpora, Rambagh, Tengpora and Batmaloo localities. In the South Kashmir protests broke out in the various areas of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts while as in the North Kashmir protests broke out in different areas of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
Officials said that Yasmeena, Feroz Mir, Shahid Hussain Bhat, Zubair Khanday, Nazir Ahmad Sheikh and Mushatq Ahmad, all from Kulgam; Shahid Gulzar of Shopian; Abdul Rashid Kumar of Pulwama; and Bilal Ahmed Shah of Anantnag succumbed to their injuries in the different hospitals.
A police spokesman said that the situation in Kashmir valley remained under control today though incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported. The spokesman said that incidents of stone pelting were reported from Warpora, Langate, Kralgund, Hajin, Kaloosa, Prichoo, Sheeri, Khanpora, Preng, Koil, Fruitmandi Sopore, Papchan, Hyderpora, Baghat Barzulla, Tengpora, Rambagh, Cement Bridge Baramulla, Tahab, Yaripora, Sangam, Bijbehara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Vilgam, Shopian, Imamsahib and Gagran.
"Unruly mobs set on fire Police Post Fruit Mandi Sopore and Police Post Litter. A number of police establishments were also attacked by hooligans. The police and para-military personnel deployed exhibited maximum restraint while dealing with the situation," said the police spokesman. He said that at Zirpora-Bijbehara in Anantnag district militants fired upon police and CRPF personnel deployed for law & order duties which resulted in injuries to three persons who have been hospitalized.
Meanwhile, normal life continues to be paralyzed in Kashmir following the imposition of curfew like restrictions in many parts and strike called for by the separatists against the killing of civilians following Burhan's death. Due to the enforcement of restrictions and strike each and every sphere of civilian activity was affected in the Kashmir valley.
In the Srinagar city curfew like restrictions were imposed in areas falling under the police stations of Nowhatta, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Maisuma and Batmaloo. Curfew like restrictions were imposed in all the major districts and towns of South Kashmir that include Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Tral, Kokernag, Achabal and Dooru.
In the other parts of the Kashmir valley the life virtually came to a standstill due to the strike call given by the separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik against the killing of Burhan and civilians since Friday evening. All the government offices and commercial establishments including banks remained closed in the valley. Public transport was also off the roads with only few private vehicles and ambulances moving on the roads.
In the meantime the cops missing from the police post at Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district are yet to be traced. These cops went missing on Saturday when a mob attacked the post and torched it while decamping with some of the arms and ammunition. |
