JOIN USAuthorities on Monday foiled ‘Anantnag chalo’, a rally called by separatists, in which 30 people, including some security personnel, were injured.
All the roads leading to Anantnag were sealed by security forces, including the Army personnel, who had erected barricades at multiple places. Reports said all kinds of communication, including landline phones, were snapped across four districts of south Kashmir, including Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag and Shopian.
However, people at multiple places tried to defy curfew and march towards Anantnag following which at least 30 persons sustained injuries as security forces used force to quell the protesters, reports said. A few CRPF men and cops were also injured in the clashes that erupted later.
South Kashmir has remained the epicentre of protests since the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 with 44 people killed in firing by forcess since then.
In Srinagar, areas under 12 police stations, including volatile old city, remained under curfew. Police detained separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Miwaiz Umar Farooq who tried to defy house detentions and march towards Annatnag to “express solidarity with people there and pay glowing tributes to the recent martyrs”.
The curfew also remained intact in north Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Sopore and Kupwara. Reports said protests erupted at Sopore but there was no major incident of violence.
A police spokesman said that overall, the situation remained peaceful across the Valley. “There was no curfew in most of the towns and areas of the Valley although it was imposed in 12 police station areas of Srinagar and towns of Awantipora, Kulgam, Baramulla, Pattan and Anantnag.
Karwan-i-Aman bus service resumed today (Monday) and 73 passengers left Srinagar in morning and reached Kaman Post, Uri safely,” he said.
However, clashes erupted in several areas of old city soon after curfew was lifted in the evening. Clashes continued till late in the evening. Normal life remained paralysed for the 17th consecutive day.
The separatists have extended their protest shutdown call till July 29. In calls reminiscent of 2010 unrest, they have started issuing weekly protest calendars in the Valley.
More than 50 people have been killed and over 5,000 civilians and security personnel injured in the violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the last 17 days of unrest.