Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 17: A Police and an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officers were injured today in Kashmir as protesters pelted stones on security forces at various places and Police arrested 58 persons for creating law and order problems.
The curfew, curfew like restrictions and separatist sponsored shut down paralysed life in Kashmir for 71st consecutive day today and the killing of a youth in clashes in Theed Harwan in the outskirts of Srinagar last evening led to massive protests in the area.
A police spokesman said that restrictions under Section 144/CrPC remained in force in the Valley, curfew was imposed in some parts of Srinagar, Budgam and Kulgam towns only, in view of the “challo calls” given by some separatists. “To clear the road, deployment used some force in which a miscreant got injured”, police said.
Police and para-military forces were heavily deployed in curfew bound areas of Srinagar and other towns. They had blocked the roads with concertina wires, mobile bunkers to prevent movement of people and vehicles. In other sensitive parts of Kashmir security forces were heavily deployed to prevent any clashes.
The shops and commercial establishments, petrol pumps, school, colleges remained closed and traffic was off the roads and train services between Banihal and Baramulla also remained suspended for 71st day today. However, there was some movement of private vehicles in Civil Lines area of Srinagar city.
The BSNL broadband internet and mobile phone services across Kashmir valley remained shut today. However, broadband services were restored in the evening. Postpaid mobile phones of BSNL are working, but outgoing call facility on pre-paid phones continued to remain suspended.
Police said that in its continuous drive against miscreants and instigators 58 individuals found involved in the offences of damaging civilian vehicles, shops/houses and placing obstructions on roads/lanes have been arrested during last 24 hours.
Massive protests were reported from New Theed area of Harwan in Srinagar after a boy Momin Altaf Ganai was killed last evening in pellet firing. Thousands of people gathered in Harwan to attend the last rites of Ganai. Clashes broke out in the area. Police said that they are ascertaining the cause of Ganai’s death.
In Ganderbal, a man was seriously injured after security forces fired at protesters. The injured man, identified as Ghulam Mohiudin Kuchey, 32, of Wussan, was shifted to Trauma Hospital Kangan where from he was referred to Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla in Srinagar. He has received bullet in his left arm. At least six persons were injured when security forces allegedly beat up protesters in the area.
Police said at Wussan, Ganderbal, a group of miscreants assembled on road and pelted stones on ITPB deployment due to which an ASI of ITBP was injured.
In Bijbehara area of South Kashmir, a police officer was among 12 people injured after security forces tried to foil a protest rally in the area. SDPO Bijbehara Tanveer Ahmad was injured in the clashes in Mehand area of Bijbehara.
A police spokesman said that at Mehend Anantnag, about 200 miscreants pelted stones on police and security forces deployment due to which SDPO Bijbehara received grievous injuries.
Six persons were also injured in alleged thrashing by security forces in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today. Reports said that security forces barged into residential houses in SK Colony area and thrashed the inmates. Six people sustained injuries in these clashes.
At least 20 people were injured tody after security forces foiled a protest rally in Shopian district of South Kashmir. Reports said security forces fired pellets and tear smoke to foil the rally in Chakoora and Harmain villages of the district.
Security forces today foiled a march to Kulgam by imposing strict curfew in the area. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed heavily in the area to thwart the march called by separatists in the area.
A police spokesman said that except five incidents of stone pelting from Wussan in Ganderbal, Mehend in Anantnag, New Theed, Nishat in Srinagar and Padgampora in Awantipora, situation remained under control across the Valley.
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