SRINAGAR: The protests and clashes between youth and security personnel continued in Kashmir on Wednesday even as curfew, restrictions and shutdown remained in force for 33rd consecutive day.
A police official said curfew remained in force in some parts of Srinagar and South Kashmir’s Anantnag town.
He said in other parts of the Valley restrictions under section 144/CrPC remained in force banning assembly of four or more people.
The police and CRPF men armed with anti-riot gears remained deployed in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. They had placed concertina wires in the curfew-hit areas and not allowing any public movement in the curfew-hit areas.
It was for the 33rd consecutive day that curfew and restrictions imposed by authorities and separatists called by separatists remained in force in the Valley. The separatists have extended the strike upto August 12.
Shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, educational institutions and public transport remained closed for 33rd consecutive day.
Kashmir has been on boil since July 8, when 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
At least 58 people including two policemen have been killed and over 7500 including 4000 civilians and 3000 security men injured in clashes between youth and security force personnel in last 33 days of unrest in the Valley.
The protests and clashes took place in many parts of Valley today despite imposition of curfew and restrictions.
Youth took out a protest rally in Lassipora area of Sogam in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district this morning. The protestors clashed with the police and CRPF men, who fired tar smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the agitating people.
Two people sustained injuries in the police action. One of the injured Shabir Ahmad, 22, was referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment. Lone’s spleen, according to doctors, has ruptured after being hit by a teargas shell.
The clashes also broke out Sangrama area in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district when youth pelted stones on the cops. The clashes continued for some time.
Police also fired tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse protestors at Qaimoh in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. At least six persons sustained injuries in the police action.
The clashes also broke out in Kakara Sarai, Batamaloo, Nowgam, Chanapora and some other parts of Srinagar.
Over a hundred people took out a rally from Wurranhal to Pazalpora in river Jhelum. Chanting anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans, the protesters rowed boats in Jhelum to protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir.
The protest rallies were also held in many parts of North, Central and South Kashmir.
A police spokesman said barring few incidents of stone pelting, the overall situation in the valley remained normal and under control.
Meanwhile, opposition National Conference (NC) working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said parliament members, who want an All Party Delegation to visit Kashmir, should have ensured implementation of the recommendations of an earlier such deputation.
“I wish MPs pushing for another All Party Delegation had been this keen about pushing the implementation of the earlier one’s recommendations,” Omar wrote on Twitter.
He said the MPs should have at least ensured tabling in Parliament, the report of the three interlocutors -- journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former Central Information Commissioner M M Ansari -- appointed by the UPA government in 2010 in the wake of similar street protests in the Valley.
“At the very least they could have ensured the tabling of the report of J&K interlocutors in Parliament,” Omar said.