Kashmir turns bloodsoaked

A police officer was also killed in the violence fuelled by three months of unending protests that have tested the resolve of the Omar Abdullah and UPA governments and prompted questions of the political leadership’s ability to control the Valley despite assurances of adopting a “soft” approach.

Across many parts of Kashmir, thousands of people defied the round-the-clock curfew, taking to the streets, burning down a Christian missionary school and over a dozen government and police installations. The protests were directed against the aborted bid to burn Islam’s holy book in the US, which the state government condemned as an act of sacrilege and appealed for peace.

Hardline Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani condemned the torching of the school and appealed for safeguarding the property and lives of minorities in the Valley.
Mehbooba’s silence

Over the past two weeks People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has maintained an enigmatic silence.On Monday, as the level of violence spiralled, the state administration banned the Iran-based Press TV channel which had reportedly telecast stories on the threat to burn the Quran.  All flights to Kashmir from different parts of the country will remain suspended indefinitely from Tuesday in view of the trouble. The step was taken because the government was finding it difficult to transport passengers to Awantipora airport in south Kashmir. Srinagar airport is closed for repair work and flights have been operating from Awantipora.

Six people were killed and more than 20 injured in firing allegedly by security forces at Tangmarg in Baramulla district. After torching the missionary school, a mob set on fire a block development office, the court chamber, the tehsildar’s residence and vehicle, the social welfare and patwari’s office and two huts of the tourism department. By this time the mob had gone out of control and it set its sights on a police station which they tried to ransack. This prompted the security forces to open fire at it.

Two protesters were killed in firing by security forces at Humhama in Budgam district after a group of people attacked a police camp. Ghulam Rasool Tantary was critically injured and succumbed to injuries. Nine-year-old dil Ahmad Lone also succumbed to injuries.
The protesters were on their way to the UN military observers’ office at Sonawar–Srinagar when securitymen opened fire as the demonstrators turned violent and attacked a police station. A policeman was allegedly crushed to death by a vehicle.
Deaths in police firing were also reported from Ompora, Charar-e-Sharief, Hanjan, Pampore, Anantnag and Ajas. A woman, identified as Rafiqa, wife of Abdul Gani Teli, died on the spot when she was hit by a stray bullet inside her house at Ompora in Budgam.