news details |
|
|
| 12 sustain injuries as valley observes shutdown against Israel operation, traffic mishap | | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, July 17: Normal life was affected across Kashmir valley today due to a strike observed against the bombing of civilians at Gaza by Israeli forces and the death of seven persons in a tragic road accident at Shalteng on Wednesday.
The call for shutdown was given by separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Ahmad Shah. At least one dozen persons got injured during the clashes between groups of youth and police & Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at the different parts of the valley. Srinagar, summer capital of the state and the other districts, towns as well as townships observed partial to complete strike against the two incidents. Lal Chowk and the other areas observed complete shutdown with shopkeepers suspending their business. However, skeletal public and private transport was moving on the roads. With shops remaining closed very few people could be seen moving around the important commercial areas of the summer capital.
In the downtown Srinagar the shops also remained closed down with majority of the people preferring to remain indoors. Only few private vehicles could be seen moving in the areas considered to be vulnerable as far as law & order situation is concerned. Some of the people especially could be seen playing cricket on the main roads as well as lanes.
In the uptown areas some of the shops remained open and the movement of both public as well as private transport was better as compared to the other areas.
There was some semblance of life in the uptown areas with people also moving around in good numbers.
Attendance in government as well as private offices along with the banks remained low as the employees could not reach to their offices due to the absence of public transport on the roads. As the government has already announced vacations for schools and colleges, neither the students nor teachers faced any difficulty.
Reports reaching here said that partial to complete shutdown was observed at Baramulla, Sopore, Pattan, Bandipora, Kupwara, Handwara, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Pampore, Awantipora, Tral, Kakapora, Budgam, Ganderbal, Magam, Tangmarg, Narbal and other areas of the valley. At these places the government offices and commercial establishments remained closed with very few vehicles moving on the roads.
Tight security arrangements were also made in downtown city, where cops had erected barricades to restrict the movement of people. However, despite stringent security measures, hundreds of youth converged at the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta and staged pro-Palestine demonstrations. Later, groups of youth emerged from the lanes and by lanes of Saraf Kadal and Rajouri Kadal and clashed with CRPF personnel and policemen that were deployed in advance. However, no one was injured in the clashes that continued for some time.
Clashes were also reported from Nawab Bazar, Habba Kadal and Kak Sarai. At Kak Sarai, a youth identified as Muhammad Umar of Tangmarg was reportedly detained during clashes. At Nawab Bazar, forces allegedly barged into residential houses and thrashed the inmates. The forces also allegedly beat up two youth identified as Aqib and Sarwar. Aqib is said to be nephew of National Conference General Secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
Clashes were also reported from the three northern Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara. Early morning, scores of youth assembled on the Khanpora Bridge in Old Town Baramulla and held pro-Palestine and anti-Israel demonstrations.
After Khanpora, the youth regrouped at Cement Bridge and clashed with the forces. The forces burst teargas canisters to disperse stone throwing youth. The clashes continued for several hours leaving two people wounded. At least three people were injured in the clashes that broke out in the Palhallan town.
A youth was hit by a teargas shell in chest. The injured youth identified as Iqbal Mohi-ud-din was removed to the Sumbal hospital for treatment.
However, the doctors there referred him to SK institute of medical sciences, Soura, for specialized treatment.
The condition of the injured youth is said to be stable. Two people were injured in Kupwara district when youth engaged the forces in ding-dong battles near the general bus stand. Many vehicles also suffered damaged in the clashes. In the Bandipora district, four youth suffered pellet injuries during clashes between protesters and the security forces in Papchan. Two of the youth identified as Adil Farooq and Muntazir Khan were removed to Srinagar hospital for treatment. Violent protests were also received from several parts of south Kashmir. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
