SRINAGAR: The curfew, restrictions and shutdown crippled life in Valley for the 46th consecutive day on Tuesday while dozens of people were injured in fresh clashes between youth and security personnel.
The paramilitary forces including BSF men, who returned to active duty in Kashmir after 12 years yesterday, have set up camps in schools even as police has registered over 500 cases against “rioters” during last 44 days.
A police official said curfew and restrictions remained in force in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley to maintain law and order and foil protests.
The police and paramilitary CRPF, SSB and BSF men were deployed to maintain vigil and prevent people from taking to roads and staging demonstrations.
The BSF men were deployed for active duty in Valley after 12 years yesterday.
The border guards have set up camps at three schools in Srinagar including SP Higher Secondary School in Lal Chowk and DAV school in Jawahar Nagar in uptown Srinagar.
The paramilitary forces CRPF and SSB have also set up temporary camps in many schools in the Valley.
All educational institutions in the Valley have remained closed for last 46 days after the unrest broke out following killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
At least 68 people including two policemen have been killed and thousands others injured in clashes between security personnel and youth during protests in Valley in last 46 days.
Meanwhile, youth clashes with security personnel at South Kashmir’s Shopian district today. Police and CRPF men fired tear gas shells and pellets to disperse the stone pelting youth. At least 20 persons sustained injuries, most of them hit by pellets, in the security forces action. The injured have been hospitalized.
A woman was injured after the cops teargas shells to disperse protesters in Watpora village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The woman identified as Haseena was hit by tear gas shell and is being treated for injuries in her abdomen in sub district hospital.
The clashes between youth and cops were also reported from some other areas in Valley.
A police spokesman said following improvement in situation curfew was lifted from most areas of Srinagar.
He, however, said curfew remained in force in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district and eight police stations areas in Srinagar.
The spokesman said three incidents of stone pelting were reported from Valley. “Except for these incidents, situation remained under control across the valley”.
The police spokesman further said in last 44 days of unrest in Valley, police has registered 537 cases against the rioters and anti-national elements.
“Besides, 381 miscreants have been arrested and booked under various relevant provision of law. Many rioters have also got injured in action by police and security forces while controlling the law and order situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, a video has surfaced on social media in which two policemen are seen announcing their resignations.
The Special Police Officers (SPOs) identified as Firdous Ahmed and Waseem Ahmed Shiekh, are announcing their resignation amid cheers in Behrampora area of Sopore in Baramulla district.
The duo was garlanded by the crowd amidst pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans. One of the SPOs, who can also be seen raising anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans, said he will never join the security forces.