Over 50 hurt in fresh J&K clashes

A security personnel takes cover behind an armoured vehicle as protesters throw stones at him during a protest in Srinagar on Tuesday. (Photo: H.U.Naqash)

More than fifty people were injured in fresh clashes across the Valley on Tuesd-ay even as curfew was lifted from southern Pulwama town whereas it remained in force only in two police station areas of summer capital Srinagar.

Among the injured are five women and an equal number of policemen and cameraman of a private TV channel Aijaz Ahmed. The police arrested 14 people during or immediately after the clashes which occurred in Batamalloo, Tengpora and Bagh-e-Mehtaab areas of Srinagar, Mahmoodabad, Dooru in Anantnag, Muha-mmad Pora in Kulgam, Chankipora and Main Chowk of Sopore town in Baramulla, Kaloosa in Bandipore and Watho in Shopian districts.

Also the normal life continued to remain at standstill across the Valley where a shutdown is being observed in response to the “protest calendar” issued and extended from time to time by an alliance of key separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. However, private cars and auto-rickshaws were seen plying on select routes of mainly uptown Srinagar. At places, groceries, pharmacies and vegetable and milk kiosks were also open.

Reports received here said that women took out processions and held demonstrations in a number of places across the Valley in respon-se to a call earlier issued by the separatists’ alliance. The security forces fired teargas canisters and pellet guns at a few places to quell the protests. Protesters torched CM Mehbooba Mu-fti’s effigies, including in Srinagar’s Nawa Kadal area.

Residents of Srinagar’s Batamalloo area alleged that the security forces forced their entry into their homes and also thrashed inmates. Among the houses which were attacked is of a photojournalist Danish Ismail. “I was not at home when the incident took place. Later, I was told the uniformed men damaged several homes, including ours. They smashed the wi-ndow panes and then threw rocks inside. My wife was so scared by their behaviour that she fainted,” he said. Kashmir Press Photo-graphers Association stron-gly condemned the incident and also using abusive language against another photojournalist Umar Ganaie by the security forces who also allegedly threw a “big rock” at him while he was covering protests at Batamaloo.

Reports said that the security forces foiled “pro-aazadi” rallies at a few places, including in southern Kulgam and Shopian areas, where marquees erected for these were uprooted and banners removed.