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| Clashes return to Srinagar, other parts of Kashmir valley | | Strike call evokes mixed response | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Jan 31: Protests broke out in some of the localities of downtown Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley with people objecting to the Army decision of closing the Pathribal encounter case. Meanwhile, the strike call given by Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz) evoked mixed response in the Valley.
Immediately after the Friday prayers people took to streets at various places and protested against the Army decision to close the Pathribal encounter case. The protesters objected to the Army contention that there is no enough evidence that would suggest Army soldiers carried out a 'fake' encounter killing some of the civilians.
In the downtown Srinagar groups of people assembled at in the Rajouri Kadal and Saraf Kadal areas and carried out strong protests against the Army decision. People of the other localities also joined the protesters and there were clashes between protesters and police. There was tension in the area with the normal activities getting affected.
Police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protesters mostly comprising of youth. The clashes between the two sides continued for hours with nobody ready to hold back. There are reports that some of the protesters and police cops sustained injuries during the clashes. The clashes were going on by the time this report was filed.
Reports reaching here said that stone-pelting incidents were also reported from Palhallan, Pattan and Baramulla town. People assembled at these places and protested against the Army decision. The clashes continued for many hours after the Friday prayers with police resorting to tear gas shelling and aerial firing to disperse the protestors. Some youth received injuries during the clashes and due to tear gas shelling.
Reports of clashes between youth and police personnel have also been received from the different localities of Sopore town. Youth appeared on roads in Muslim Pir, Chinkipora, Neharpora and Main Chowk Sopore. The protesting youth pelted stones on police and security forces personnel thus leading to clashes between two sides.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik was arrested while trying to lead protests in the restive Maisuma area in up-town Srinagar. As soon as Malik began to march towards Lal Chowk from Maisuma, he was arrested by police with his associates. This led to tension in the Maisuma and adjoining localities. Other separatist leaders were either arrested or kept under house arrest by the administration.
At the same time the one day strike call given by Hurriyat Conference (M) evoked mixed response. While shops and business establishments remained open in the up-town areas these remained closed in downtown Srinagar and different markets around Lal Chowk.
Public transport remained off the roads in downtown Srinagar while it plied normally in the uptown areas.
Reports of partial to complete strike have also been received from the other districts, towns, township and villages in Kashmir valley. While the strike was almost complete in main districts and towns it was partial in the villages with activities going on in a normal way. |
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