The general state of unrest prompted the authorities to impose indefinite curfew in almost all major towns of the Valley, including Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Sopore, Ganderbal and Budgam.
Police and para-military forces staged a march in the entire Srinagar city and urged people to remain indoors and not to defy the curfew.
But, in many parts of the Valley the protesters defied curfew in violent ways. They set ablaze a railway station, a police camp and two Air Force vehicles. In many towns, protesters took recourse to stone pelting at security force personnel and in at least one instance they also tried to snatch arms from the security forces.
The defiant protests prompted security personnel to open fire in two places during the day. Two persons were killed in fresh police and CRPF firing on protestors during the day while half a dozen persons received bullet injuries.
The police and paramilitary forces also burst smoke shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse demonstrators and over 50 protesters were injured.
Meanwhile, Geelani, who was arrested last month for making inflammatory speeches, was released on Saturday evening. However, he refused to move out of the hospital in response to the release order.
With Saturday’s killing, the death toll in police and CRPF firing since Friday has risen to six. The condition of at least three persons is also stated to be critical.
Police said the personnel of Indian Reserve Police at Naidkahi-Sumbhal in north Kashmir opened fire as protesters attacked their camp with stones. A 21-year-old youth Mudasir Ahmad was killed, while another person sustained injuries.
Police officials said a big group of stone pelters attacked the Battalion headquarters leaving Bandipore SP Sheikh Junaid injured, besides injuring several other policemen.
Javid Ahmad, 32, was killed when police opened fire at protestors in Baramulla.
The local people alleged that he was not part of the protest. Javid received bullet injury on his head.
Police opened fire at Kreeri when people were protesting against the missing in custody of a youth, Syed Farhat Bukhari. Five persons including two females were injured in the firing. Later, the violent protests set ablaze the building of a police camp. The demonstrators blocked the Srinagar-Jammu national highway for several hours by cutting trees on the road.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday again appealed the people to cooperate and help in restoring peace. “Unrest is in nobody’s interest. Common people are getting killed and suffering,” he said. However, the hard-line Hurriyat faction asked people to continue protests until Tuesday. People’s Democratic Party condemned the death of the protesters in police firing.