Ishfaq Mir
Srinagar, Sep 08: For the second day in succession, police and paramilitary forces enforced tough curfew in Srinagar and other parts of Valley while sporadic clashes broke out between protesters and policemen at several places including Ganderbal, the Chief Minister’s home constituency. At least 30 persons sustained injuries in the clashes
GANDERBAL
At least eight persons were injured when police men fired from pump action guns toward protesters at Ganderbal.
Locals said hundreds of people had taken to streets at Beehama to protest the civilian killings at the hands of police and CRPF men. When the protestors reached near Duderhama Chowk, police men used tear smoke shells and resorted to firing on protesters, causing injuries to eight persons including a 14-year old boy Showkat Ahmad Khan of Beehama. Khan was shifted to SKIMS, where from doctors referred him to Bones and Joint Hospital Barzulla.
“Khan has sustained firearm injury in thigh causing a fracture femur. We have shifted him to B&J hospital for further treatment. It will take 3 to 4 months for his injury to heal,” said Medical Superintendent SKIMS Dr Syed Amin Tabish.
SRINAGAR and BUDGAM
Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel enforced curfew and restrictions in old city and uptown Srinagar for the second day in succession. The cops had placed barricades on the roads and were not allowing any kind of public movement.
However, youth defied curfew and took to roads at Chattabal, Habbakadal, Bemina, Batamaloo, Soura, Nowhatta and Zukura areas. The protestors chanting pro-freedom, pro-Islamic and anti-India slogans clashed with police and CRPF men, who lobbed tear gas canisters and fired from pump action guns.
At Chattabal, Soura, Bemina and Zakura five persons sustained bullet and pellet injuries during clashes and have been hospitalized.
The locals in Zukura, Habak alleged that CRPF men went berserk during the clashes. “They barged into houses, ransacked the household items and beat the inmates. They also smashed the glasspanes of several houses,” they alleged.
People also took to streets in old Barzulla, Chanapora and Hyderpora in civil lines area and staged protest demonstrations against civilian killings. However, they were chased by the men in uniform, who lobbed tear gas canisters and resorted to baton charge. The protestors retaliated by pelting stones and bricks towards them. The clashes continued for quite some time.
Youth also took to roads and staged anti-India demonstrations near SDA Complex Bemina. They pelted stones on police and CRPF men, who used force to disperse them. The protestors torched a condemned truck bearing registration No. JK01C/7236.
Reports of protests were also received from HMT area on Srinagar-Baramulla highway. A sexagenarian identified as Ghulam Mohidin Guru sustained stone injury in head and he was shifted to SKIMS.
Authorities imposed restrictions in central district of Budgam. People staged peaceful demonstrations at Ompora and were demanding action against the police and paramilitary troopers involved in civilian killings. They were also demanding release of political leaders and arrested youth.
Dr Tabish said seven injured persons from Soura, Chattabal and HMT were admitted in SKIMS on Wednesday. “They were having firearm and bullet injuries and are undergoing treatment,” he said.
SOUTH
The curfew continued to remain in force in Islamabad town. Authorities extended the curfew to Bijbehara town on Wednesday after clashes. Large number of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in Islamabad town and adjacent areas to prevent people from taking to roads and staging anti-India demonstrations.
The residents of Islamabad town alleged that CRPF and police men beat the people when they tried to venture out of their homes and offer prayers in the mosque. “I requested the CRPF men outside my house to allow me to go for prayers in a nearby mosque. But they severely thrashed me,” said a local Tasleem Ahmad.
Another, person Muhammad Abass who was being treated at District hospital Islamabad also said he was mercilessly beaten up by CRPF men.
In the evening, when deployment was withdrawn, youth took to streets at various places in old town like Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, Reeshi Bazar, Sherpora, Janglat Mandi, Achabal Adda, Dangerpora, Mattan Chowk and Lal Chowk and clashed with police and CRPF men. Clashes also erupted at K P Road, Khanabal, Naibasti, Laizbal and Gulshanabad.
The cops lobbed dozens of tear gas canisters and fired several rounds in air to disperse the youth, who retaliated by pelting stones and bricks towards them.
Clashes also erupted in several areas of Bijbehara town late in the evening when the deployment was withdrawn. The cops lobbed tear gas canisters and fired several rounds in air to disperse the protestors. At least six persons sustained tear shell injuries and about a dozen police and CRPF men were reportedly injured.
In Kulgam, Qaimoh, Shopian Pulwama, Kakpora, Pampore , Tral, Awantiprora section 144 was enforced by the cops and the movement of the people was restricted.
The clashes took place in Kadalbal and Namabal areas of Pampore. Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, people took to roads and staged demonstrations. They were demanding release of the arrested youth. They were intercepted by police and CRPF men, who used force to disperse them.
A pro-freedom procession led by Tehreek-I-Hurriyat activists was taken out in Shopian town in the evening where an Iftaar party was to be hosted. Later, a senior leader of Hurriyat (G), Muhammad Yousuf Falahi addressed people inside the Jamia Masjid.
People pelted stones on DC office Shopian after hearing the news about Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s arrest.
Locals said the CRPF and police men opened fire on protesters, critically injuring a 17 year old boy.
NORTH
Protests were reported from Bandipora, Trehgam Kupwara, Baramullah, Sopore and Palhallan.
The residents of Pattan and Sopore accused CRPF men of barging into houses, damaging the property and harassing the inmates.
Strict restrictions were in place in all the townships of north Kashmir.
POLICE VERSION
A police spokesman said situation across the valley remained by and large peaceful barring few incidents of stone pelting at Behama Chowk in Ganderbal, Main Chowk in Sopore, Habak crossing and Sabzi Mandi Soura and Telbal, Chatabal in Srinagar, Galwanpora Hyderpora in Budgam.
“Near Telbal on Foreshore road in Hazratbal, mobs of miscreants pelted stones and erected hurdles on the road. They pelted stones on the police and CRPF men, who resorted to mild lathi charge and lobbed tear smoke shells to disburse the mob. However, the miscreants did not relent. The police was forced to use pallets in which one person namely Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammed Ramzan of Telbal wasinjured. He has been hospitalized and his condition is stable,” he said.
He claimed that a miscreant Showkat Ahmed Khan son of Abdul Ahad of Behama, Ganderbal received plastic pallet injury in his leg when the mob did not relent and continued with throwing stones, bricks and police had to use pallets.
“A group of miscreants resorted to pelting stones near SDA complex Bemina. The unruly mob torched a truck bearing registration number JK01C-7236. Police chased them away using mild lathie charge and tear smoke shells. Stone pelting was also reported from Chatabal in Srinagar. Police used tear smoke shells and fired some pellets to disperse the mob. A stone pelter namely Ubaid Ahmad son of Mehraj-u -din resident of Chhatabal was hit by pellet in leg and has been hospitalized,” he added.
