Valley Shuts over Shopian Killings; Curfew remained in parts of South Kashmir
KN DESK; 12, Sep 2013: Complete Shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley today against the killings of 5 youth in South Kashmir’s Shopian district from last Saturday. While as strict Curfew was imposed in Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam Districts.
Protests against these killings were reported from several parts of the valley including old town Baramulla, Sangrama, parts of Kupwara, Lal Chowk, Dailgam, Ganjiwara in Islamabad, Ganderbal and in Hawal area of old city Srinagar.
A Strict curfew was enforced in Shopian town since the last evening after a fresh incident of killing took place in the area.
Armored vehicles made announcements ordering people to stay indoors and any violation to the curfew will not be tolerated. However youth on hospital road pelted stones on the vehicle that was making announcements.
People tried to defy curfew in Gagren, Kanipora and Shirmal areas. An eye-witness from Shirmal told, “People tried to defy the curfew and started the march towards the main town however police and paramilitary troopers resorted to tear-gas shelling, Later they barged inside the houses in the area and beat inmates.”
People in Gagren area of the town, where the incidents took place also tried to defy curfew, Police lobbed numerous tear-canisters to disperse the mob.
Later during evening hours as the forces left the town, youth chased them, Police again resorted to intense tear-gas shelling.
Residents in the main town of Shopian have complained that “extra-use of tear-canisters is being witnessed here, due to these tearsmoke shells, nor we can remain in our houses and neither are we allowed to venture out. It is looking the forces are going to kill us due to these tear-canisters. They have make air like a poison for us.”
Meanwhile Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has appointed DC Shopian Bashir Ahmad Bhat to probe the killings in the area that took place from last Saturday. However locals alleged that these probes didn’t reveal anything, we had seen such probes in Kashmir from past 20 years and these probes end without any findings.
State Cabinet today orders replacement of CRPF personnel by Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) contingent at Gagran.
Curfew was also imposed in neighboring towns including Kulgam, Pulwama, Qaimoh, Kakapora etc to thwart any protest.
Despite restrictions protests broke out in many parts. In Redwani area of Kulgam, people tried to defy curfew. CRPF and Special Operations Group (SoG) opened fire on the protesters resulting in injuries to 4 persons. Among the injured, one Adil Lone of Redwani was seriously injured after he was hit by a bullet in his abdomen, earlier it was said that bullet has hit his neck.
In Barsoo area of Ganderbal, Protesters damaged 15 vehicles of Indian Army. Eyewitnesses told that an Indian Army convoy from Badamibagh was on its way to Kargil. Few private trucks hired by Army on rental basis were part of the convoy. As the convoy reached near Barsoo Bypass, scores of youth present their came down heavily on Army and resorted to severe stone-pelting.
Witnesses said that at least 15 Army vehicles including private trucks were damaged in stone-pelting. “The youth cordoned the Army vehicles from all sides and hit the windowpanes with stones. Army personnel boarding on vehicles hid themselves while some of them came out and wielded their guns in air,” an eyewitness told.
According to a police statement, more than 20 youth sustained injuries in the valley during the day.
Meanwhile Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah has called for complete shutdown in the entire valley on 14th and 15th of Spetember against these killings in Shopian. Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has urged people to observe ‘black day’ tomorrow and hoist black flags on your houses and mosques. JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik has gone underground as he earlier announced to hold sit-in-protest against Shopian killings on Friday.
An Independent MLA, Engineer Rashid who is also the party chief of Awami Itehad Party was detained by police along with his several party members after he was protesting against the killings in Shopian.
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| Picture at Maisuma |
A Strict curfew was enforced in Shopian town since the last evening after a fresh incident of killing took place in the area.
 |
| Strict Curfew being enforced in Shopian |
People tried to defy curfew in Gagren, Kanipora and Shirmal areas. An eye-witness from Shirmal told, “People tried to defy the curfew and started the march towards the main town however police and paramilitary troopers resorted to tear-gas shelling, Later they barged inside the houses in the area and beat inmates.”
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| Protesters trying to defy Curfew in Shopian |
People in Gagren area of the town, where the incidents took place also tried to defy curfew, Police lobbed numerous tear-canisters to disperse the mob.
Later during evening hours as the forces left the town, youth chased them, Police again resorted to intense tear-gas shelling.
Residents in the main town of Shopian have complained that “extra-use of tear-canisters is being witnessed here, due to these tearsmoke shells, nor we can remain in our houses and neither are we allowed to venture out. It is looking the forces are going to kill us due to these tear-canisters. They have make air like a poison for us.”
Meanwhile Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has appointed DC Shopian Bashir Ahmad Bhat to probe the killings in the area that took place from last Saturday. However locals alleged that these probes didn’t reveal anything, we had seen such probes in Kashmir from past 20 years and these probes end without any findings.
State Cabinet today orders replacement of CRPF personnel by Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) contingent at Gagran.
Curfew was also imposed in neighboring towns including Kulgam, Pulwama, Qaimoh, Kakapora etc to thwart any protest.
Despite restrictions protests broke out in many parts. In Redwani area of Kulgam, people tried to defy curfew. CRPF and Special Operations Group (SoG) opened fire on the protesters resulting in injuries to 4 persons. Among the injured, one Adil Lone of Redwani was seriously injured after he was hit by a bullet in his abdomen, earlier it was said that bullet has hit his neck.
In Barsoo area of Ganderbal, Protesters damaged 15 vehicles of Indian Army. Eyewitnesses told that an Indian Army convoy from Badamibagh was on its way to Kargil. Few private trucks hired by Army on rental basis were part of the convoy. As the convoy reached near Barsoo Bypass, scores of youth present their came down heavily on Army and resorted to severe stone-pelting.
Witnesses said that at least 15 Army vehicles including private trucks were damaged in stone-pelting. “The youth cordoned the Army vehicles from all sides and hit the windowpanes with stones. Army personnel boarding on vehicles hid themselves while some of them came out and wielded their guns in air,” an eyewitness told.
According to a police statement, more than 20 youth sustained injuries in the valley during the day.
Meanwhile Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah has called for complete shutdown in the entire valley on 14th and 15th of Spetember against these killings in Shopian. Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has urged people to observe ‘black day’ tomorrow and hoist black flags on your houses and mosques. JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik has gone underground as he earlier announced to hold sit-in-protest against Shopian killings on Friday.
An Independent MLA, Engineer Rashid who is also the party chief of Awami Itehad Party was detained by police along with his several party members after he was protesting against the killings in Shopian.
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| Engineer Rashid detained in Srinagar |
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