Strike, curfew continue in Kashmir

Valley on the boil: Rajnath Singh concludes two-day visit

 As Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his two-day visit to Kashmir, there was no let-up in the clashes and curfew for the 48th consecutive day on Thursday.

Reports said clashes between the protesters and security forces continued in south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam districts, in which several people were injured.

The residents of Prichoo village in Pulwama, where a teen protester was killed and over 40 were injured on Wednesday, said security forces barged into their houses and beat up the occupants.

In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a youth was injured after he was hit by a teargas shell fired by the security forces. Witnesses said clashes broke out in Qazipora in Bandipora when security forces fired teargas canisters to disperse youths who were participating in a rally.

In Srinagar, curfew remained relaxed in civilian lines areas, while the restrictions continued in old city areas. Minor stone-pelting incidents were reported from some areas of the old city. After lifting of curfew, there has been some movement of people and vehicles in and around the city centr’s Lal Chowk for the past three days.

A police officer said except for minor stone-pelting incidents, the overall situation across Kashmir remained under control. “Apart from some police stations in Srinagar, Anantnag and Pulwama, there was increased movement of traffic in the rest of Kashmir,” he said. More than 150 people, including a woman and an elderly man, were injured on Wednesday in clashes.

The separatist leaders, spearheading the ongoing unrest, have extended the strike call till September 1. In the new programme announced on Wednesday, they asked people to protest on all days, block the roads and play Islamic and freedom songs in mosques from Magrib (evening) to Isha (night) prayers.

They have also warned the divisional commissioner, deputy commissioners and heads of government departments against asking employees to rejoin work.

As many as 68 people, including two policemen, have been killed and more than 8,000 injured in the clashes,  which began on July 9, a day after the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in Anantnag district.