At least 40 people were injured in Kashmir Valley on Friday, in protests condemning the killing of four civilians in a BSF firing at Gool area of Ramban district.
Clashes erupted at various places across the valley against the Thursday’s incident. The authorities clamped curfew in most parts of Kashmir and several areas of Jammu to thwart attempts to take out protests on separatists’ calls against the killings.
In the wake of the incident, no fresh batch of Amarnath pilgrims was on Friday allowed from Jammu for Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, the police said. Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway was closed since midnight as a precautionary measure.
Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Shalinder Kumar said the yatra had to be suspended from Jammu due to the blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway at several places.
“We will hold a meeting in the evening and decide whether to allow the yatra tomorrow (on Saturday) or not,” he said.
Sources said several people were injured in police action at Kurhama near Ganderbal in Central Kashmir. They said police used force to quell protests. Reports said protests also rocked several areas of Jammu division against the killings in Ramban, where curfew continued to be in force.
Various religious and separatists organisations had called for protests across Jammu and Kashmir after Friday prayers.
The IG, Kashmir, said only two persons were injured in protests at Ganderbal. He said Kashmir remained by and large peaceful.
In Kashmir’s old city, heavy contingents of police and CRPF personnel had been deployed to thwart any attempt of protest. The forces had laid razor wire and erected barricades on the roads and at junctions to stop movement of people and vehicles.