South Kashmir continues to be under curfew. Protests erupted elsewhere
SRINAGAR; 13, Aug 2013: Protests erupted in some parts of Kashmir Valley after Friday congregational prayers in response to call given by Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani against Shopian killings. Besides, curfew continued in various towns of South Kashmir including Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag and Bijbehara.
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| Pic at Gagren Shopian, Police vehicles blocked the main road |
However, despite restrictions, peaceful protests were reported after Friday prayers in many areas of South Kashmir including Shopian and Pulwama. The protesters were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Police and paramilitary CRPF men wearing riot gears were deployed in Shopian, Kulgam, Qaimoh, Pulwama and Kakpora townships and some other adjoining villages to foil any attempts of protests by locals, reports said.
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| Pic in a residential area of Shopian where police lobbed tear-canister |
They said police and CRPF had erected barricades and bunkers at many places and people were not allowed to venture out. However, peaceful protest demonstrations were witnessed in many villages in Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam.
Late in afternoon, the clashes turned violent at Shopian when a group of youth pounced on a cop and beat him severely. The injured cop identified as Tariq Ahmad Bhat was immediately shifted to Hospital for treatment, official sources told.
They said that that five persons suffered minor injuries in clashes that erupted in other areas of Shopian including Bungam, Gagran, Memendar.
Reports reaching said that soon after Friday prayers scores of Kashmir University students chanted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
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| Protests at Kashmir University |
Similarly, scores of youth took to streets at Kadi Kadal and Saraf Kadal in Old City against the Shopian innocent killings. “However Police and CRPF men deployed in the area dispersed the protesting people. A minor stone pelting clash was also reported in the area,” reports said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.
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| Protest in Old City Srinagar |
Reports of similar peaceful protests were also received from Bus Stand Baramulla, Khanpora Bridge, Main Chowk Sopore, Naidkhai Sumbal in Bandipora and Jamia Masjid Kupwara against the Shopian Killings.
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| Stone-pelting in Baramulla |
A protest rally was taken out from Central Jamia Masjid Srinagar led by JKLF (H) Chairman Javaid Ahmad Mir against the innocent killings by Indian security forces in Shopian and other parts of the Valley.
Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the consequent killing of innocent civilians in Shopian.
Meanwhile, authorities on Friday placed chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference under house arrest.
“He (Geelani Sahab) was not even allowed to offer the Friday prayers. In fact more policemen were deployed outside his (Hyderpora) residence,” said Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of Hurriyat Conference (G).
He said even as the octogenarian leader was allowed to offer prayers on few Fridays in 2012, “this year he was not allowed to offer Friday prayer ever since he returned to Valley from New Delhi in March.”
Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also placed under house arrest and barred from addressing Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid here.
However, Police foiled the attempt of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik to stage a sit-in at Lal Chowk.
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| Yasin Malik marching towards Lal chowk |
Witnesses said Malik and his supporters were arrested by police soon after they took out a protest march from Maisuma towards Lal Chowk.
After Malik’s arrest, tension gripped in Maisuma locality where scores of youth indulged in stone pelting clashes with the forces deployed in the area.
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| Police lobbed numerous teargas shells to chase away protesters in Budshah chowk |
Meanwhile Opposition party PDP's leader, Mehbooba Mufti along with several party activists also hold a protest at Regal Chowk in Srinagar.
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| PDP Leader Mehbooba Mufti holding a protest at Regal Chowk |
(with inputs from GNS)
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