Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 2: Curfew and shutdown paralysed life in Kashmir today in which over 300 protesters and police men were injured in clashes that broke out across Valley.
Authorities today imposed curfew in parts of Srinagar and other towns of South and North Kashmir including Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Baramulla.
Thousands of security force personnel were deployed in Srinagar areas including in downtown since early morning. They erected barricades and blocked roads with concertina wires.
Authorities for the 8th consecutive week disallowed Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar.
Shutdown and curfew paralysed life in Kashmir and all commercial activities remained disrupted for 56th day today. Schools, colleges remained shut, Government offices and banks had skeletal staff. The public transport was off the roads with some private vehicles plying in civil lines area.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 56th day today while mobile internet and pre-paid mobile services continued to be shut down across Kashmir to prevent further violence.
In the meantime, the body of the youth, Danish Ahmad Haroon, who drowned yesterday in River Jhelum at Palpora in Noorbagh after he was being chased away by security forces, was fished out today.
Soon after the body was fished out, thousands of people turned up at Noorbagh and took him in a procession to graveyard at Eidgah for burial.
Meanwhile, protests and violent clashes erupted at dozens of places in Srinagar and on its outskirts after Friday prayers. Clashes erupted at HMT, Maloora, Zainakote, Noorbagh, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Rawalpora, Shivpora, Kak Sarai, Zampa Kadal, Sabzi Mandi Soura, Harwan, Brane, Nishat, Rainawari, Shalimar, Mehjoor Nagar, Barzulla, Galwanpora Hyderpora and Barthana in Qamarwari. Clashes were also reported from several areas of Old City after withdrawal of security forces deployments.
Thousands of people today protested in Ganderbal and Budgam districts after Friday prayers at several places. Security forces fired tear smoke and pellets to foil these protests. The clashes were reported from Magam, Nagam, Narbal, Ompora, Chadoora, Beerwah, Nasrullahpora, Power House Kangan, Pandach and Gadoora in Ganderbal.
Protests were also reported from North Kashmir’s Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts during which 145 protesters and 67 security men were injured.
Protests broke out at Sogam, Lolab, Lalpora, Kralpora, Trehgam and Hathmulla in district Kupwara. The protesters pelted stones at security forces who fired tear smoke and pellets to disperse them. Forty protesters and 18 police men were injured. The protesters last night torched Vocational Training Centre at Watergam that was constructed by Army.
Protests broke out at Kralgund and Langate in Handwara area in district Kupwara. The protesters pelted stones at security forces who fired tear smoke and pellets to disperse them. Seventeen protesters and 10 police men were injured.
Protests broke out at Hajjan, Ajar, Pazalpora, Nowpora and main market in Bandipora district of North Kashmir. The protesters pelted stones at security forces who fired tear smoke and pellets to disperse them. Nineteen protesters and four police men were injured. Protesters pelted stones at Goodwill School Hajjan in North Kashmir.
Protests broke out at Cement bridge, Azad Gunj, Palhalan, Kreeri and Dhobiwan in Baramulla district. The protesters pelted stones at security forces who fired tear smoke and pellets to disperse them. Thirty four protesters and 17 CRPF men were injured.
Protests broke out at Main Chowk, Noorbagh, Arampora, Potkhah, Hadipora and Dangiwachha in Sopore area of Baramulla district. The protesters pelted stones at security forces who fired tear smoke and pellets to disperse them. Thirty five protesters and 15 police men were injured in these clashes.
Protests broke out in South Kashmir after Friday prayers. Clashes broke out at Haal, Tahab, Newa, Wushbug, Newa, Rajpora, Tral and Kakpora areas of Pulwama district while peaceful rallies were taken out from Rohmoo, Litter, Murran and Mitrigam. During clashes, police fired teargas and pellets against the protesters.
In Anantnag district, clashes between security forces and protesters were reported from Khanabal, Jablipora Bijbehara, Goriwan Bijbehara, Achhabal and Kapran. The Qaimoh and Khudwani areas of Kulgam district also witnessed violent protests after Friday prayers. The Shopian district also saw clashes between forces and protesters at Gagran, Chowdhary Gund and Crossing Shopian.
According to Zonal Police Headquarters, Kashmir, curfew was imposed in Srinagar, towns of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Baramulla today. In a statement issued here, a spokesman of the Zonal Police Headquarters said that 35 stone pelting incidents were reported from Srinagar, Sopore, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kulgam and Kupwara.
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