Kashmir continues to be tense

Curfew stays, shutdown call extended till Aug 12

Kashmir continues to bleed as scores of protesters were injured in fresh firing on Saturday, as curfew and shutdown continued for the 29th consecutive day.

A 16-year-old boy from Natipora area of Srinagar sustained serious pellet injuries late on Saturday evening. Doctors said the boy is critical.

Two youths sustained bullet injuries at Kawdara area of old city Srinagar during the clashes. They have been shifted to the hospital, and their condituion is said to be serious.

Reports said at least 40 civilians, including seven women, were injured as security forces resorted to pellet firing and tear gas shelling to prevent a protest rally in Chee village of Anantnag district in south Kashmir. A 12-year-old, who was critically injured after receiving pellet injuries in the eye was referred to a hospital in Srinagar.

Reports said four protesters received pellet injuries at Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, while 22 youth sustained pellet and tear gas shell injuries in central Kashmir’s Budgam.

Thousands attended the last rites of two youths killed by forces at Khansahab in Budgam and Wagoora in Baramulla. After the burial, violent protests raged in the area and adjoining localities.

At least 56 civilians have been killed and over 4,000 injured since protests erupted following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Among the injured, according to hospital records, 378 people have sustained eye injuries, many of them on the verge of losing their vision.

On Friday, three protesters were killed and over 400, including over 100 police and paramilitary personnel, were injured in fresh violence across Kashmir after security forces foiled separatists’ march to the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. While curfew remains imposed in most parts of the Valley, separatists extended the shutdown call till August 12.