Kashmir erupts: 11 killed in clashes as Burhan Wani is buried, youth wave Pakistani flags at funeral procession

It's déjà vu 2010 in Kashmir.

The Valley has erupted in what seems to be a rerun of the 2010 'azadi groundswell'. Eleven people have been killed and over 150 – including 96 security force and police personnel – are injured, while three cops are reported missing in the clashes.

The violence follows the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen poster boy Burhan Muzaffar Wani and his two associates on Friday. Thousands joined his funeral procession at his native place Tral on Saturday, with some youth waving Pakistani flags.

Curfew has been imposed in several parts of south Kashmir and Srinagar while mobile internet has been snapped across the valley. Mobile telephone service to south Kashmir, which is the epicentre of the protests, too have been suspended.

Amaranth yatra was also suspended for the day as no pilgrim bus was allowed to move on Jammu Srinagar highway. Inter-district train services too were suspended as a preventive measure in the valley.

Police said scores of police stations and security camps were attacked and some of them torched mostly in the south Kashmir. House of MLA was set ablaze in Kokarnag area of south Kashmir.

Police said three cops have gone missing after a mob set ablaze one of the buildings of Damhal Hanjipora police station and took 20 cops hostage before firing on them, causing injuries to three of their men.

“They looted the weapons and used it to fire at the cops. Three policemen were injured while three are still missing,” said SM Sahai, additional director general of police (CID), Jammu and Kashmir.

Sahai said there have been attempts to enter the camps at different places. Several posts and pickets including a BSF post in Bandipora were set afire by the mob.

“There have been multiple attacks at various locations. Consequences of it are very unfortunate. We are very sad about it. Eight people died in the consequences. Seven of them died in retaliatory action and one died by drowning. Ninety six security force personnel were injured,” said the ADGP CID.

Mob also attacked various places housing minority habitations. Hawl area was targetted in particular where some abandoned houses were set afire.

Sahai appealed to the public, particularly the parents, to counsel their children not to take law into their own hands and resort to violence. “We would like to appeal to the parents that young boys are coming out and there is no need to do that,” he said.

Sahai, who is in charge of the police department in absence of K Rajendra Kumar who is on leave, refused to draw any comparison with the 2008 Armarnath land row agitation and 2010 azadi groundswell in Kashmir.

“We would like the situation to normalise as soon as possible. We will impose restrictions if it is required to save lives,” he said.

Late in the evening, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti broke her silence and expressed deep grief and agony over the death of youth during protests at various places in Kashmir valley on Saturday.

“Disproportionate use of force for crowd control results in loss of precious lives and grave injuries which should be avoided at all costs. Police and the paramilitary forces should use Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) while dealing with protesters to avoid loss of precious human lives or injuries,” she said.

Sensing the mood, separatists have used the opportunity to revive the public movement in Kashmir. Extending the strike, separatists, including moderate and hardline Hurriyat Conference, besides JKLF have extended the shutdown by two days to protest civilian killings.

“People should reach their respective masjids peacefully and raise slogans in protest of these killings by using the loudspeakers and public address systems,” said a spokesman of the joint leadership.