| Clashes, protests continue in Kashmir | | | Srinagar, Aug 22: Several persons were injured when security forces allegedly opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators in south Kashmir district of Shopian, where hundreds of people from different villages had come to participate in a rally organized to protest against the civilian killings. Security forces allegedly set on fire shamiyana tents, damaged public address system and power generators and stage erected for the rally at Gnawpora, Shopian, the residents said. They said that a peaceful rally was to be organized in an open field where there was no curfew or restrictions on assembly of people. People from different village arrived at the venue while others were on way when security forces and state police personnel, supported by Army from Balapora camp stormed the village and beat up people.
Security forces later burst teargas shells and fired pellets to disperse the demonstrators in which several persons were injured. Islami Tanzeen-e-Azadi (ITeA) chief Abdul Samad Inquilabi, who was also scheduled to address the rally, said over a dozen persons were injured in the security force action. Strongly condemning the security force action, he said the rally was peaceful against the civilian killings.
"Curfew will continue in Srinagar without any relaxation today (Monday)," a police official said here.
Restrictions under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc) have also been imposed in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Pampore, Badgam, Sopore, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Handwara, Awantipora and Qaimoh towns on Monday to maintain law and order in Kashmir Valley. Irfan Ahmad, 17, from Fateh Kadal area of old Srinagar city was killed during clashes with the security forces in Malarata area on Sunday evening.
Ahmad was hit in the chest with a tear smoke shell. According to doctors, he was brought dead in the hospital.
With the teenager's death, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the valley has risen to 68. Separatists have already extended the ongoing protest shutdown till August 25.
The valley has been crippled by officially imposed curfew and separatist called protest shutdown since July 9, a day after the killing of top militant, Burhan Wani, in a gunfight with the security forces. Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir and a general sense of insecurity, oil tanker owners association and truck owners association have decided not to carry the supplies of fuels and foods to the valley. |
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