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| Minor clashes over Kousarnag Yatra, life crippled | | Cops accused of thrashing a doctor in Noor Bagh area | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Aug 2: Normal life was crippled across the summer capital of state along with other parts of Kashmir due to strike and restrictions imposed by authorities in most areas of old city in connection with the controversy generated over the proposed Kausarnag Yatra in South Kashmir's Kulgam district.
The call for strike was given by hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and it was supported by some other separatist groups. On the other hand authorities imposed restrictions in the five police stations of downtown Srinagar. The strike and the restrictions virtually led to a complete standstill of activities.
Curfew like restrictions was imposed in areas coming under police stations of Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta and Safa Kadal. As such people of these areas could not move out and carry out their daily chores of life. The people of these areas got confined to the four walls of their houses.
Due to the strike and restrictions skeletal public and private transport could be seen operating in the Srinagar city and the other districts of Kashmir valley. The attendance in the Government offices was very thin while as the commercial establishments also remained closed in majority of the areas. Pertinently, schools and colleges are closed in Kashmir on account of summer vacations.
Reports said that day passed off peacefully with very few incidents of stone pelting taking place during the course of day. The reinforcement of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Srinagar and other district headquarters ensured that day passes off peacefully with minor skirmishes being reported.
In the morning some groups of youth appeared in the Narbal area on Srinagar-Gulmarg highway and protested against the proposed Kausarnag Yatra. The youth stopped some vehicles that were moving to different destinations and asked the drivers not to operate since there was a strike call. The protesters also pelted some stones towards the police and CRPF personnel.
Reports of minor clashes have also come in from the central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. Groups of people assembled in the Beehama and Qamaria Chowk respectively and raised their protest against the Yatra. They also raised slogans against the Yatra and warned of dire consequences in case the Yatra is undertaken.
A group among the protesters clashed with the police and CRPF personnel and pelted stones on them. The stone pelting was retaliated by chasing and lobbing of few smoke shells. Minor injuries were reported to few protesters and the injured were discharged after being provided first aid.
In the meantime, Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) alleged that a doctor of SKIMS-Soura was thrashed by cops in the Noor Bagh area while he was on way to the hospital to attend to his duties. DAK alleged that a police officer asked to produce the curfew pass and as the medico failed to produce it he had to face the wrath of the top cop. |
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