Curfew relaxed in parts of Srinagar

 While the curfew was relaxed in parts of Srinagar on Tuesday for the first time since July 9, at least 15 people were injured in fresh protests in other parts of Kashmir, where restrictions prevailed for the 46th day.

The situation in Srinagar was peaceful though some minor clashes between stone pelting youth and forces erupted in the old city area. There was increased movement of people and vehicles in Srinagar during the day.

However, shops, educational institutions and business establishments remained closed while public transport continued to be off the road. To counter the separatists’ strike after 6 pm, the authorities re-imposed curfew in the evening.

A police spokesman said following improvement in the situation, curfew was lifted from most areas of Srinagar. He said three incidents of stone pelting were reported from Shopian, Srinagar and Sopore till evening. Reports stated that 14 people were injured after security forces fired bullets and pellets to quell protests in Nowgam-Vihil village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. While four protesters received bullet injures, the rest were hit by pellets, hospital officials said. In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a woman was injured when security forces fired pellets to disperse protesters. Witnesses said protests erupted after security forces brought down Pakistani flags hoisted in Malanagam village.

The police arrested eight government employees, including the president of Employees Joint Action Committee, and shifted them to sub-jail in Baramulla.

The employees were detained on Monday after the police foiled their protest against the killing of civilians and demanded an inquiry by a Supreme Court judge to look into the excessive use of force.

A total of 67 people, including two police personnel, have been killed and nearly 8,000 injured in the clashes that erupted after the killing of Hiz-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

Reports said two special police officers publicly resigned from their jobs in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. However, the police denied any such development.

Meanwhile, the police have strongly rebutted a news report carried by a national daily on closing down of police stations in south Kashmir and running militants training camps there.