Strike, clashes, restrictions mark Friday
A man watches from the windows of his house as paramilitary soldiers (not seen in the picture) deployed to impose restrictions are withdrawn in Kawdara area of Srinagar, on Friday. Photo/Javed Khan
Srinagar, Apr 06: Authorities on Friday imposed restrictions in parts of Kashmir Valley including Srinagar to prevent protests called by the separatists, however, protests, though with low intensity, continued in several parts of City as well as rest of Valley.
Restrictions under Section 144 CrPc were imposed in seven police station areas — Khanyar, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safakadal, Maisuma and Kralkhud — of Srinagar.
Curfew-like restrictions were also imposed in Kangan town in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district as well as in Shopian town in south Kashmir.
Yesterday, while there were no restrictions or shutdown after three days and schools and colleges reopened, protests by students of various educational institutions erupted at several places in the Valley.
The protests forced the authorities to shutdown schools and colleges across the Valley once again today.
The separatists had also called for protests today. They had asked people to stage “peaceful protests” after the Friday congregational prayers against the recent killings in south Kashmir and Kangan area of Ganderbal.
Trade bodies – Kashmir Economic Alliance and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) – had also called for a strike today against the killings.
Meanwhile, shops and other business establishments across the Valley were shut, while public transport remained off the roads. Some private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were however plying in the areas where there were no restrictions.
Train service were suspended across Kashmir today.
Meanwhile, protests and clashes were also reported from several areas in the city and the countryside.
Police foiled a protest march of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) at Abu Guzar here.
Meanwhile, police said that Station House Officer (SHO) Police Station Nigeen, Manzoor Ahmad sustained injuries during the clashes between youth and government forces.
“Our colleague SHO Nageen Insp Manzoor got injured today morning in a stone pelting incident. He is being treated in hospital. We pray for his speedy recovery,” Kashmir zone police tweeted.
Scores of students of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar also held a protest demonstration against the south Kashmir killings here.
Clad in white aprons, students holding placards were joined by doctors and paramedics in GMC premises amid pro-freedom slogans.
The students also adopted the resolution by the separatist leadership against the “ongoing repression in Kashmir”.
Clashes erupted between forces and protesters in central Kashmir’s Charar-i-Sharief township post-Friday prayers today when scores of youth assembled near shrine and tried to march towards town amid pro-freedom slogans.
However, forces swung into action and fired several tear-gas canisters to disperse the protesting youth.
Earlier, funeral in absentia for the people who were killed in past week in Kashmir were also held.
Clashes also erupted in Palhallan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after Friday prayers.
Reports said soon after the culmination of Friday prayers at various mosques in the area, people took to streets to protest the recent killings across Kashmir.
However, a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces intercepted the protesters and fired several tear-gas shells to disperse them, triggering clashes in the area.
There was no one injured during the clashes, reports said.
Sources said that after Friday prayers, people took to streets to protest the recent killings in various parts Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts across north Kashmir.
However, a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces intercepted the protesters and fired several tear-gas shells to disperse them, triggering clashes in the area. There was no one injured during the clashes, reports said
Meanwhile, violent protests erupted in Trehgam area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday morning after locals accused police of barging into the residential house of village headman Bashir Ahmad Malik in Bunpora thrashing inmates including his wife.
The sources reported that Malik’s wife received a minor injury in her head from baton blows and she was given first aid and then shifted to hospital for treatment.
Reports also said a youth was injured during clashes in Kalampora village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.
Reports said that after Friday prayers, youth in the area took to roads and started protests.
Reports said the youth pelted an Army vehicle with stones in the area and the forces in retaliation fired aerial rounds. One youth namely Inaytullah suffered injuries and was referred to Rajpora health centre for treatment, reports added.
However, a police spokesman refuted this and said no one was injured in the clashes in Pulwama.
Witnesses said amidst sloganeering, dozens of people assembled at Mirgund chowk to protest against the recent killings across Kashmir.
They said that protesters pelted stones on government forces who retaliated with tear-smoke shells triggering clashes.
In Budgam township also, protest rallies were carried out from central Imam Bargah and Jamia Masjid Ganaie Mohallah to the Main chowk.
Funeral prayers in absentia for the slain militants and civilians were also held, in which people from both Shia and Sunni communities took part.
While addressing the gathering, Aga Syed Yousuf, a local religious leader said, “We are here to express solidarity with the martyrs of Kashmir.”
He added that it is obligatory upon Muslims to raise voice against oppression.
Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, demonstrators condemned the killings.
In Berwah sub-district, after culmination of Friday prayers, people assembled in the main market and offered funeral prayers in absentia for the slain persons.
Eyewitness said that clashes also took place in Beerwah and Adina areas.
KU, Colleges, HSS’s closed for today
Srinagar, Apr 06: Authorities have decided keep schools and colleges closed Saturday while as in some areas schools from primary to high school level will remain open.
The authorities in Kashmir University have also suspended the class-work and postponed all its exams scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Officials said the class-work in all higher secondary schools and colleges will remain suspended in Srinagar district tomorrow while as schools from primary to high school level will function normally.
“The class-work in colleges and higher secondary schools will remain suspended as a precautionary measure to avoid law and order problems,” officials said.
The district administration in south Kashmir has decided to close all the educational institutions tomorrow in the three districts.
