One more youth dies, toll climbs to 66

Separatists extend strike call till Sep 1; Curfew imposed in Pulwama

25/08/2016

SRINAGAR, Aug 24: A youth today died in fresh clashes between protestors and security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on a day Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here to review the situation.
With the death of the youth, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley has climbed to 66.
"Aamir Bashir, who had pellet injuries in his chest, was brought to SMHS Hospital here but the doctors declared him brought dead," a police official said.
He said the youth was a resident of Pohu village in Pulwama district where fresh clashes erupted between protestors and security forces this morning.
Several other persons have sustained injuries in the clashes which were going on till last reports came in.
Besides the 66 dead, several thousand others have been injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
Yesterday, the authorities lifted curfew from most areas of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, in view of the improving situation.
The lifting of the curbs allowed movement of people in the city as there was increased traffic of private cars and auto-rickshaws in and around Lal Chowk city centre yesterday.
However, the official said, restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 of the CrPC will continue in the rest of the Valley to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike.
Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads.
The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said.
Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred.
The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has asked people to hold an assessment drive in all villages and localities today to prepare a list of the needy.
The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, has extended the agitation till August 25.
However, curfew remained in force in some areas of Srinagar and two towns of south Kashmir today, while restrictions on the assembly of people in rest of the Valley continued for the 47th consecutive day in the wake of violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Curfew is in force in five police station areas of downtown city and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in the uptown, a police official said.
He said in south Kashmir, curfew continued in Anantnag town and was imposed in Pampore town today to maintain law and order.
Yesterday, the authorities lifted curfew from most areas of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, in view of the improving situation.
The lifting of the curbs allowed movement of people in the city as there was increased traffic of private cars and auto-rickshaws in and around Lal Chowk city centre yesterday.
However, the official said, restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 of the CrPC will continue in the rest of the Valley to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike.
Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads.
The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said.
Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred.
The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani's killing, has asked people to hold an assessment drive in all villages and localities today to prepare a list of the needy.
As many as 65 persons, including two cops, have been killed and several thousands injured in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, has extended the agitation till August 25.
To keep the unrest in Kashmir going on, the separatists today extended their strike call and agitation till September 1 and announced a new calendar of protests, including a march to Srinagar-based Army headquarters on the weekend.
The separatists also called for a joint march to Eidgah in downtown Srinagar on Friday, according to a statement.
They also asked people to lock down all routes to their localities and villages by "every means" during night to "protect" people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by security forces and police.
The separatists also asked women to occupy chowks in their vicinities and stage peaceful protests on August 30.
It also asked people to block all roads near Doordarshan, Radio Kashmir (AIR) and Information Department to ensure that "no employee is allowed to enter the premises" on September 1.
"Lock down all government offices except essential services on August 29," it said and warned of "social boycott" of Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and heads of all departments if they issue threats to the employees for reporting to duties.
The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitation in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's killing on July 8, had earlier called for strike till tomorrow.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters, Kashmir, today eight incidents of stone pelting were reported from Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.
The statement said during stone pelting near Degree College Pulwama, militants hiding in the mob fired and hurled two grenades on the deployment resulting in injuries to 17 police and CRPF personnel and some civilians. The injured include CO 183 Bn CRPF, ASP Pulwama, DySP Pulwama and SHO Pulwama, the statement added.
At Pinglina, Pulwama miscreants assembled on road and started heavy stone pelting on the police and SF deployment. In order to clear the road and chase the miscreants, Police/Security forces were compelled to use some force, which caused injuries to few miscreants. One of them identified as Amir Gul Mir son of Ghulam Mohammad Mir resident of Ratnipora succumbed to his injuries, the statement said. In this incident a number of police and security forces personnel were also injured, the statement added.
Except for these incidents, overall situation across the valley remained under control till filing of this report. Apart from some police stations of Srinagar and town Anantnag there was increased movement of traffic on roads in rest of the valley, the statement added.
According to District Magistrate, Pulwama, Mr. Muneer-ul-Islam restrictions have been imposed in all parts of the district from August 25, 2016 from 4 a.m till further orders.
No person except ill persons or otherwise allowed by the Magistrates shall be allowed to move, an order issued by the District Magistrate said.

Photo Gallery

BSE Sensex

NSE Nifty