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| 4 killed, 60 injured in fresh clashes in Valley | | Violence remains unabated as toll reaches 52 in 2 months | | Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: Brief lull in the two-month-long spate of bloodshed broke today with the pro-Azadi demonstrations and clashes of unruly groups with Police and CRPF at several places in Kashmir valley. At least four people got killed and 60 others injured in today's clashes that happened in the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan and ahead of the Indian Indepedence Day. Today's spate of violence yet again led to speculations of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's resignation even as the government postponed a scheduled meeting of the United Headquarters and Dr Farooq Abdullah is reaching here on an unscheduled visit in the morning on Saturday.
Amid near-total shutdown on the separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call in Kashmir valley, violence marred day two of the holy month of Ramazan which also happened to the first Friday on the month. Informed sources told Early Times that immediately after the morning prayers, people in several localities took out protest demonstrations. While a similar rally was going on at Trehgam village in Kupwara district, CRPF opened fire. One 17-year-old student of class 10th, namely Mudassar Ahmed Zargar S/o Mohammad Akbar Zargar, got killed and several others sustained injuries due to teargas shelling, firing and stampede. Sources at SKIMS said that a 65-year-old woman, namely Janna, was under treatment as she had sustained gunshot wounds.
Around the same time, CRPF opened fire on a similar protest demonstration at Pattan on Srinagar-Baramulla highway. A 65-year-old civilian, namely Ali Mohammad Khanday S/o Mohammad Abdullah Khanday got killed and over a dozen others sustained injuries. Khanday's death in the CRPF firing evoked widespread protests in Baramulla-Pattan belt. Intermittent clashes took place between unruly mobs and Police and CRPF.
In third major incident of shootout, CRPF opened fire on a massive demonstration in the afternoon near Bumai in Sopore area. Sources said that the procession came out after Friday prayers concluded at the village mosques and began heading towards Sopore. On the highway, CRPF on duty intercepted the rally and opened fire. Two youth got killed. They were identified as 18-year-old Sameer Ahmed Lone S/o Mohammad Maqbool Lone and 16-year-old Mohammad Arif Mir S/o Maqsood Ahmed Mir, both residents of Logripora village. Sources said that over a dozen others sustained injuries in the shootout and violent clash.
Officials maintained at all the three places in North Kashmir, demonstrators attacked security forces who made attempts to disperse the crowds with teargas shelling but failed. They said that the security forces finally resorted to opening of fire that resulted in death of four civilians. They said that over 20 persons were believed to have sustained injuries in different clashes today.
A government press release said : "Curfew and restrictions in most of the districts of the valley including Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag Shopian, Kulgam , Budgam , and Bandipora were lifted to facilitate the prayers for the Ist Friday of holy month of Ramadan. People at many places held huge religious congregations in North, South and Central Kashmir, in all the mosques across the valley. Peaceful protests were also held at a number of places . Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took out a peaceful procession in the downtown Srinagar which dispersed peacefully.
"However, the mobs turned violent at some places and resorted to heavy stone pelting. At Bomie Sopore the mob attacked the 92 Bn CRPF camp, at Nowhatta police station was attacked , at Trehgam Kupwara and at Pattan security forces were targeted. In Pattan miscreants violated curfew and indulged in heavy pelting on the police and security forces. At many places mobs were hell bent on attacking police and public property. Though they indulged in heavy stone pelting, however, police and security forces exhibited restraint and used tear smoke and conducted lathie charge. Security forces had to fire when mobs did not pay any heed to repeated calls for dispersal.Thirty police/CRPF person and ten civilians were injured.
"Four persons lost their lives two at Bomia, in Sopore where security force camp was attacked by a huge mob. One person lost his life in Trehgam, and one in Pattan.The public at large and parents of the youth in particular are requested to cooperate with the police in maintaining peace and order in their vicinities".
While the official sources put the number of the injured at around 50 and maintained that 30 of the injured, including two officers, were from J&K Police and CRPF, independent sources insisted that at least 60 persons, including not less than 30 civilians, were injured in today's incidents of violence. These sources disputed official version of the CRPF having opened fire only after the unruly mobs attacks camps and deployments. According to these sources, security forces opened fire on "peaceful demonstrations".
However, reports from several places said that unruly crowds engaged Police and CRPF in violent clashes while resorting to heavy stone pelting, CRPF and Police succeeded in dispersing the crowds at some places but brought the situation under control only after they opened fire. These sources said that violent crowds attacked offices of District Magistrates and Development Commissioners at Shopian and Anantnag and also the Police Stations at Nowhatta in Srinagar and Dooru in Anantnag.
Here in the capital city, authorities had lifted curfew first time on Friday after weeks of total freeze. Head of the so-called moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was released from his home detention of several weeks and also allowed not only to deliver his weekly sermon and perform prayers at Jamia Masjid but also to lead a massive anti-India and pro-Azadi demonstration. A group of violent youth attacked Police Station at Nowhatta. Sources said that at least one civilian sustained gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital.
Authorities have re-imposed curfew in almost entire Kashmir valley in apprehension of further violence and resultant reaction tomorrow. Hardliner Hurriyat chief, Geelani has also modified his shutdown calendar and asked the Kashmiris to observe total shutdown on August 14th and 15th. He had earlier announced relaxation in shutdown and wanted the Kashmiris to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day on Saturday.
With four more deaths today, number of the people killed in different incidents of firing in Kashmir valley since June 11th has reached 52.
Sources said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was seriously considering to step down and there were widespread speculation in this direction when he canceled a scheduled meeting of the Unified Headquarters. However, his father and union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah is understood to have stopped him. He, according to sources, is reaching here on an unscheduled visit in the morning tomorrow.
Meanwhile, stone pelting and clashes with CRPF and Police were also reported from the highway towns of Ramban and Banihal. Sources said that over a dozen demonstrators and Policemen sustained injuries. One of the critically injured constables was rushed to Jammu and admitted to SMGS hospital tonight.
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