Kashmir simmers as death toll reaches 31

The youth continued to fought pitched battles with police and paramilitary forces across the Valley and attacked Air Force base in Pulwama, police stations and police posts.
A woman identified as Yasmeena of Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir, who had sustained critical bullet injuries yesterday in police action, succumbed to injuries at SMHS hospital today.
Besides, eight other people, who had sustained injuries in police and paramilitary forces firing, also succumbed to injuries today.
The deceased were identified as Feroz Mir, Shahid Hussain Bhat, Zubair Khanday, Nazir Ahmed Sheikh and Mushatq Ahmed, all from Kulgam, Shahid Gulzar of Shopian, Abdul Rashid Kumhar of Pulwama and Bilal Ahmed Shah of Anantnag.
Massive protests rocked Shopian area, where forces used force to quell the mourners who had assembled to participate in the funeral of a 12-year old boy Shahid killed in forces firing on late Sunday evening.
The curfew remained in force in four districts of South Kashmir, parts of uptown and downtown Srinagar and other parts of the Valley.
“Curfew was imposed in all 10 districts in the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar,” official sources said.
In Srinagar city, roads remained deserted and youth clashed with police and CRPF men at Maisuma, Amira Kadal, HMT, Nowgam, Maharaja Bazar, Batamaloo, Rambagh, Chanapora, Baghi Mehtab, Hyderpora, Humhama, Ompora, Barzulla, Budgam, old city areas of Nawpora, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Pantha Chowk, and other areas.
In Srinagar, situation was tense as people took to streets and the mosques were reverberating with pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans, a day after the death of youth Shabir Ahmad at Tengpora, Byepass Batamaloo in police firing.
The cops also fired at the protesters at Zirpora area of Bijbehara injuring two youth, who were later rushed to Srinagar hospital for treatment. One youth was shot in chest and another in abdomen.
There were reports that force personnel vandalized the SDH hospital Bijbehara. The doctors and patients in the hospital were beaten up by the cops and the hospital administration has taken up the incident with DC Pulwama.
The entire Kashmir is seething with rage as people have drawn out in large numbers on the roads to protest the killing of the HM commander, Burhan Wani, in an encounter with the forces on Friday evening and killing of civilians in security men’s firing.
The cops also resorted to intense aerial firing in Trehgam area of border district of Kupwara when locals defied curfew to stage protests against the civilian killings.
“The cops also used Pepper gas due to which elderly, women folk and children faced grave problems,” locals alleged.
An angry mob torched a Police Post at Fruit Mandi, Sopore. The cops immediately swung into action and resorted to massive teargas shelling to foil the mob.
Reports from Pulwama and Shopian said Litter Police Post, SIDCO Lassipora SOG Post and a new building which belongs to police were set ablaze by angry protestors.
In Shopain, eyewitnesses said, Army went on rampage in Zavoora area of Shopain and thrashed the villagers.
The locals informed Rising Kashmir over phone that their property was vandalized and household goods were ransacked by the army.
A group of protesters pelted stones towards the air force airport at Koil in Pulawama this morning, a police official said. They also set afire the dry grass inside the airport complex.
Security men tried to chase away the mob. However, the mob regrouped and fought a pitched battle the security men. The clashes continued for some time.
Three persons were injured yesterday when forces opened fire to disperse a mob which was pelting stones at the air force base.
Tral, the home town of Burhan continued to remain on boil as fresh firing incident by cops was reported from the area today. The police opened fire at protestors at Lidyar (Tral) injuring 16 people. The injured were shifted to a local hospital.
Three injured persons from Bijbehara and Tral were referred to Srinagar hospitals for treatment and are said to be critical.
One youth identified as Aamir Latoo is said to be very critical. Latoo hails from Bijbehara.
Fresh firing was reported from Harwan Merakshah Shab late this evening. One person received bullet in head and is said to be critical.
Late evening firing incidents were also reported from Pulwama.
Authorities have increase presence of force personnel in vulnerable areas of the city and elsewhere in the valley to contain the protests, a police official said.
He said the restrictions were being enforced strictly to avoid any further loss of life or damage to property.
Sources in police said ten companies of additional paramilitary personnel have been sought from Government of India (GoI) to deal with the situation in the valley.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra reviewed the security situation of the Valley today, sources said.
Meanwhile, shops, offices, business establishments and petrol pumps remained shut for third consecutive day today while public transport was completely off the roads.
Mobile internet services also remained suspended in the Valley.
The separatist leaders including Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem, Khan, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and others continue to remain under house arrest.
Police version
A police spokesman said the situation in Valley remained under control today though incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported.
He said the incidents of stone pelting were reported from Warpora, Langate, Kralgund, Hajin, Kaloosa, Prichoo, Sheeri, Khanpora, Preng, Koil, Fruitmandi Sopore, Popchan, Hyderpora, Baghat Barzulla, Tengpora, Rambagh, Cement Bridge Baramulla, Tahab, Yaripora, Sangam, Bijbehara, Trehgam, Kralpora, Villgam, 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,” he said.
The spokesman said at Zirpora Bijbehara militants fired upon police and CRPF personnel deployed for law & order duties which resulted in injuries to three persons who have been hospitalized.