Two killed in Kashmir Valley, curfew in eight towns

While one person was killed when police fired rubber bullets during a mob attack on Bijbehara police station in Ananthnag district today, another person died this morning of injuries sustained in police firing in Chinkipora in Sopore last evening.

Incidents of stone-pelting were also reported from Srinagar and Baramulla, it said.
"Curfew is in force in Sopore, Baramulla, Pattan, Anantnag, Qaimoh, Kulgam, Kupwara and Handwara as a precautionary measure", police said, adding that the step was taken in view of apprehension of breach of peace in these eight towns.
It said there was no curfew or restrictions in force in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian and Bandipora districts.

Giving details of the mob attack on Bijbehara police station, police said the force used teargas shells and resorted to cane-charge to disperse the agitators. But the protesters did not relent and tried to set the police station and the office of Sub Divisional Police Officer on fire by throwing petrol bombs.

It said the personnel inside the police station fired rubber bullets in self-defence and as a result two persons sustained injuries, one of whom died. Some policemen were also injured, it said.

Police said CRPF troops of 177 battalion were attacked by the stone-pelting mob when they were withdrawing after performing their duties at Chinkipora, Sopore, 55 kms from here, last evening.

The troops opened fire to quell the mob, leaving three persons injured. A man identified as Mudassir Nazar succumbed to his wounds in a hospital this morning, it said.
The mob also threw a broken bottle at CRPF Assistant Commandant, S K Das, leaving him injured, it said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani was placed under house arrest this morning as a preventive measure, police said.
Geelani, who is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley, was put under house arrest as he was planning to lead a prayer in Hyderpora.

Shops and business markets, banks, educational institutions and private offices reopened and all modes of transport were back on the roads barring the curfew-bound areas.

The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after allegedly being hit by a teargas shell at Gani Stadium near Rajouri Kadal. After that street protests broke out in the Valley which has claimed 62 lives so far.