Kashmir violence: death toll rises to 52

Curfew, strike and protests continued in Kashmir on the 23rd consecutive day on Sunday with one more person succumbing to injuries, taking the death toll to 52.

Reports said a youth from Sopore, who was injured during protests in his hometown on July 23, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Hospital in Srinagar. However, a police spokesman said the youth had fallen from a tree and was not injured in the current unrest.

He said an FIR with regard to spreading of rumours was lodged at the Sopore police station.
Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed due to separatist- sponsored strike, curfew and restrictions in parts of the Valley.

However, more than 10,000 candidates appeared for the pre-medical and pre-engineering Common Entrance Test. Officials said out of 11,881 registered candidates, 10,803 appeared in the test conducted by the Board of Professional Entrance Examination at various centers in Kashmir.

Reports said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who visited a few of the centres in Srinagar, faced a hostile crowd when she reached Government College for Women, Srinagar.
A police official said some aggressive parents tried to block her, however, they were kept at bay.

The protesting parents said the presence of the chief minister and her security disturbed the candidates.

Reports said two people were wounded when forces opened fire in Imam Sahib area in south Kashmir’s Shopain on Sunday afternoon. The police used teargas canisters and fired pellets to disperse the protesters due to which two people sustained injuries, reports added.

The separatists on Saturday extended the shutdown call till August 5, the day they intend to take out a march to Hazratbal shrine here.
DH News Service