20 injured in Srinagar, elsewhere; Firing in Imam Sahib Shopian; Pellets continue to rain on protestors
Amid curfew and restrictions in Kashmir areas, at least 20 people were injured in evening clashes in Srinagar and parts of South and North Kashmir on Sunday. Four youth sustained pellet injuries in Kupwara late in the evening.
Srinagar district remained relatively peaceful throughout the day amid complete shutdown and restrictions in many of its parts. However, evening clashes rocked Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Saraf Kadal, Safa Kadal, Sekidafar, Qamarwari and many other areas.
Clashes between forces and youth also took place in HMT, Lawaypora and Bemina areas. A torch procession was taken out at Nowgam. In late evening clashes, two youth sustained pellet injuries at Danderkhah, Batamaloo, who were later hospitalized. Witnesses said there was no let-up in pellet firing in Srinagar district.
Residents of Rainawari alleged that forces were ruthlessly beating residents while chasing the youth.
Pertinently, old Srinagar areas witnessed restrictions as forces had placed rolls of concertina wire on main roads to prevent protests. However, protests and clashes were reported soon after withdrawal of forces in the evening. Clashes were going on in many areas of old Srinagar till late evening.
Following the relaxation call given by pro-freedom camp, a few shopkeepers opened their shop shutters at Regal Chowk here after 6 pm. People were seen buying essential commodities from the provisional stores. A couple of shopkeepers were seen throwing out the expired stuff and cleaning the shelves.
SOUTH KASHMIR
At least eight people sustained pellet injuries in Shopian district on Sunday even as curfew continued in most South Kashmir towns for the 23rd straight day. On the call of pro-freedom leadership, people also offered Asr and Magrib prayers on roadsides while pro-freedom slogans reverberated in mosques.
Reports said in Imam Sahib area of Shopian, people defied curfew and clashed with forces. The forces fired pellets, injuring eight persons who were shifted to District hospital-Shopian.
Dozens sustained injuries after being hit by teargas shells and thrashing by forces, witnesses said. A shop in the area was gutted after a teargas landed on its rooftop, locals said.
Curfew remained in place in Anantnag, Bijbehara, Kulgam, Pulwama and Kakpora. However, massive protest demonstrations were held in peripheral areas.
People were seen offering Asr and Maghrib prayers on roadsides in their localities. Massive rallies were held in Bijbehara and Kulgam villages. People from various sects—setting aside their affiliations—have come together in Duchnipora belt of Bijbehara under the banner of Itihad-I-Milat and have been organizing massive gatherings in different villages every day, locals said. Deobandis, Barelvis, Ahlihadith and Jamat-I-Islami all are holding these processions together, said villagers of Duchnipora.
Huge rallies were held in Marhama and Kanelwan villages. “Today another huge pro-freedom procession was held at Dupatyar village. Thousands from adjoining villages were seen walking on foot, riding motor bikes, load carriers and trucks to reach the area,” locals told Greater Kashmir over phone.
Tehreek-I-Hurriyat and JKLF activists and clerics from various sects addressed the gathering at a local schoolground in Dupatyar.
Addressing the gathering, Muslim Conference chairman and General Secretary of Hurriyat (G), Ghulam Nabi Sumji, lashed out at former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, calling him “a clever and a cunning politician who betrayed Kashmiris the most.”
“I have observed Mufti very closely and perhaps nobody knows him better than me. He deceived people and inflicted pain on us,” said Sumji, adding his daughter Mehbooba Mufti is following her father’s footsteps.
Referring to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, he said: “She used to visit slain militants’ families and mourn with them. But I always believed that she will soon get unmasked and her real face will come to the fore. Today she stands exposed.”
He also took on National Conference, saying they are “now doing same what Mehbooba used to do in the Opposition.”
“Their hands are also soaked in blood,” he said.
CLASHES IN TRAL
Clashes erupted in Tral and youth attacked a police cavalcade which was on way to Tral town from Awantipora.
Youth ambushed the police party at Eidgah Tral, Tral Bala and hurled stones on police vehicles after they tried to remove the barricades put by youth, witnesses said.
Police retaliated with teargas shelling and tried to chase the youth who however continued with stone-pelting on the forces.
Meanwhile, residents of Lariyar Tral accused the government forces of raiding the village during night hours and breaking windowpanes and household items.
“Men were busy with ‘Esha’ prayers when a posse of CRPF men barged into our house. I raised the alarm and people approached our house and saved me. We have send girls to our relative’s place,” a woman from Lariyar said.
Local residents demanded removal of local CRPF camp.
NORTH KASHMIR
Four youth sustained pellet injuries at Iqbal Market in Kupwara. Witnesses said the firing was unprovoked as youth were sitting on roadside when a joint party of forces resorted to indiscriminate pellet firing, injuring four youth, who were admitted in Sub District Hospital Kupwara.
Clashes were witnessed in areas like Lalpora, Lolab, Awoorda, Warsun and Kralpora. In Kupwara town, strict restrictions were in place. Locals alleged the Army has closed the Kupwara-Lolab road near Zangli creating hardships for them. Meanwhile, Baramulla town and its adjoining areas witnessed strict restrictions amid shutdown. All bridges connecting Old Town with the uptown area remained closed. The lanes and by-lanes in uptown area were being guarded by the army. The residents of Khanpora, Baramulla accused the police and CRPF personnel of unleashing terror in the area by smashing windowpanes of houses and damaging scores of vehicles, which include light-motor vehicles and trucks parked outside their houses, on Saturday evening.
Following the incident, scores of youths held protest on Sunday morning. The protesters blocked the highway at Khanpora and burnt tyres against the alleged highhandedness of the forces. The authorities later put strict restrictions in the area and didn’t allow anyone to venture out.
In Delina area, locals staged a protest demonstration on Saturday night against the nocturnal raids and arrest of three brothers over charges of stone-pelting.
Reports from Seelu area of Sopore said the youth had called for Seelu Chalo after Magrib prayers. However, forces prevented them, triggering violent clashes. The CRPF men allegedly fired in the air to disperse the protestors.
In Main Market Sopore, youth tried to set ablaze a CRPF post. The forces, however, retaliated with teargas shelling. Earlier in the day, a massive protest rally was staged by the women folk at Palhallan, Pattan. The protesting women were shouting pro-freedom slogans. The protest dispersed peacefully.
CENTRAL KASHMIR
Clashes were reported from various parts of Ganderbal district. A huge candlelight procession was taken out at Kangan that passed through various streets and culminated peacefully. At Barwula, Kangan, locals staged protest against the detention of three youth.
The protestors were demanding their release. Late evening clashes were witnessed from areas that include Duderhama, Beehama, Manigam and other areas.
Witnesses said protests against alleged atrocities by forces took place at Tulmulla.
In Budgam district, clashes took place in Adina, Mazhama, Kanihama, Sheikhpora, Humhama and Narbal.
A peaceful demonstration was carried out at Chitroo that passed through Dangerpora and when it reached near Ropura Chadoora, it was foiled. Late evening reports said two youth sustained pellet injuries at Narbal, who were shifted to a hospital.
