SRINAGAR: A civilian and a policeman, injured during the clashes in the Valley, succumbed to injuries on Sunday, taking the death toll in the clashes triggered by the killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani to 50. A youth, Sameer Ahmad, critically injured in security forces’ firing on protestors during the clashes in Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on July 10, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here on Sunday.
A policeman, Mudasir Ahmad, injured in a grenade attack of militants on police Station Yaripora in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on July 15, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here. Over 5,000 people including 3,000 civilians have been injured in the clashes.
Meanwhile, authorities continued to enforce curfew-like restrictions in four districts of South Kashmir – Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama – besides six police station limits in Srinagar. The police and CRPF men enforced restrictions in the curfew-bound areas and also remained deployed in large numbers in other parts of the Valley where curfew was lifted.
The curfew-like restrictions and shutdown called by separatists crippled life for the 16th consecutive day in the Valley on Sunday. All shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, government offices and banks remained closed while public transport was off the roads. The mobile internet services and mobile services in the Valley also remained suspended. Only BSNL broadband and postpaid mobile connections are working in the Valley. The train services also remained suspended for 16th consecutive day.
A police spokesman said situation in the Valley remained peaceful and under control on Sunday. He said there were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley although some stray stone pelting incidents were reported from isolated places. Meanwhile, Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik extended the strike call till July 29. The separatist leaders have called for a complete shutdown on July 25 (Monday) and called on people to march towards South Kashmir’s Anantnag town. They have announced relaxation in shutdown from 2 pm on July 26 and asked people to stock essentials during the relaxation period.
Separatists have asked people to march towards south Kashmir’s Kulgam town on July 27. They have also called for a complete shutdown on July 28. Separatists exhorted people to march towards Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar on July 29.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, connecting Srinagar with capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), will resume on Monday after remaining suspended for two weeks due to unrest in the Valley.
A police spokesman said Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service will resume its weekly operations from Monday. He said passengers travelling across the LoC through the bus have been asked to report at SRTC Yard Bemina at 3 am. The cross-LoC bus service was started in April 2005.