Life paralysed on 73rd day, over 50 injured in protests

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Anantnag, September 19

Curfew was clamped in Pulwama and Shopian towns of south Kashmir today in view of the separatists’ call for a protest march. Old Srinagar city also remained under curfew.

The separatists had called for a protest march in Baramulla, Srinagar and Pulwama districts.

Nearly 50 persons were injured today in clashes in various parts of the Valley.

In south Kashmir’s Shopian district, clashes erupted between locals and security forces when the police did not allow a rally in Vihil village. The police and the CRPF used force to disperse the protesters.

“The police fired tear-smoke shells and pellet guns to disperse the people triggering day-long clashes in the area,” a local said.

According to Health Department officials, over 50 injured were treated at various health facilities across Shopian district while two of the critically injured protesters were shifted to a Srinagar hospital.

A girl, Khushboo, 19, died of cardiac arrest in Vihil village. Residents alleged that she had suffered a heart attack during police action.

However, the police denied the allegation.

The home of the girl is about 7 km from Vihil village, where the miscreants set on fire a school and also indulged in stone-throwing.

As per the hospital authorities, the girl died in all likelihood because of a cardiac arrest. The death of the girl is no way related to the incident that happened at Vihil village.

In the neighbouring Pulwama town, the Army conducted a flag march as things remained under control throughout the day.

In Kulgam, barricades were erected by security forces outside all security forces’ camps to prevent any movement throughout the day. The barricades were removed in the evening, following which clashes erupted at several places.

Meanwhile, the police, in a statement, said that “barring stray stone-pelting” incidents in Sopore and Shopian, the overall situation remained “under control” across the Valley today.

Increased vehicular traffic and movement of people was observed on roads between various districts and towns of the Valley, including Srinagar city, a police spokesman said in the statement.

The spokesman said restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC remained in force in the Valley today, where normal life remained disrupted for the 73rd consecutive day.

Meanwhile, following an improvement in the situation, the authorities have decided to allow post-paid mobile Internet services in the Valley from Tuesday.