SRINAGAR: At least 264 government and private properties including schools and police establishments were torched and damaged during the five months of unrest in Kashmir triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8 last year.
“At least 41 government properties were damaged during the unrest in different parts of the Valley. Of these 28 were set ablaze by unknown persons while 13 were damaged by mobs,” reveals the official data.
Police had also arrested over 5600 people from across the Valley during the unrest in a bid to end the turmoil and restore normalcy.
After the killing of Wani in an encounter with security forces, Kashmir remained under curfew for about 52 days while the shutdown remained in force for over four months during which the Valley witnessed near daily protests and clashes between the youth and security personnel.
At least 94 people including two policemen were killed and over 13000 civilians and 5000 security men were injured in clashes during protests in the Valley.
According to official figures, 35 schools were set ablaze in different parts of the Valley. Most of the schools were torched in South Kashmir, which was the epi-centre of the long unrest.
During the unrest, five panchayat ghars were also set on fire by unknown persons in different parts of the Valley, the official data reveals.
It states that at least 50 police establishments were also targeted. Of these 10 were set afire while 40 others suffered damage.
The figures disclosed that 133 private properties suffered extensive damage during the unrest. “Of these 80 private properties were set afire while 53 others were damaged”.
It stated that police had registered cases in all these incidents and had taken up investigations.
The government further disclosed that 2684 FIRs were registered from July 9 up to December 31 and the cases are presently under investigation.
After the eruption of turmoil, police and security forces had launched a massive crackdown and arrested separatist leaders, the youth participating in protests and government employees in a bid to curb violence.
According to official figures, 5653 persons were arrested to end the crisis and restore normalcy in the Valley.
“In Srinagar 1137 persons were arrested. It was followed by South Kashmir’s Anantnag district with 694 arrests, Baramulla 490, Ganderbal 481, Budgam 434, Shopian 392, Awantipora 353, Sopore 325, Kupwara 304, Pulwama 300, Bandipora 267, Kulgam 266 and Handwara with 210 arrests,” it stated.
After the improvement in the situation, authorities claimed that they released most of the arrested separatist leaders and the youth. However, it is stipulated that many are still under detention.