THE BURNING KASHMEER

Uneasy calm prevails in curfewed Valley

Another youth succumbs, toll 89; 60 injured in fresh clashes, Bemina youth critical; Over 100 missing inTangmarg; 2 women sustain bullet injuries
GOWHAR BHAT/MUDDASIR ALI


Srinagar, Sept 14: A day after police and CRPF killed 17 persons in the Valley over the protests against alleged desecration of Quran, a strict curfew was clamped thought out the Valley on Tuesday even as another injured succumbed to his injuries taking the toll of killings since June 11 to 89. People defied curfew at a few places during the day stating protests. At least sixty persons, one of them critically, were injured in fresh clashes today.
NORTH KASHMIR
A youth injured in the firing at Tangmarg on Monday succumbed to his injuries today. Abdul Qayoom of Sangrama was injured in police and CRPF firing at Tangmarg yesterday and he succumbed to his injuries this morning, witnesses said. With Qayoom’s death toll in Tangmarg firing mounted to six.
The Tangmarg town and its peripheries remained tense after the killings today. Hospital authorities revealed 72 persons were injured in Monday’s firing with 70 of them sustaining bullets.
Since yesterday, locals say scores of youth are missing from several localities of Tangmarg, Pattan and Varmul. They had participated in the protest march to Tangmarg. Locals said around 40 youth are in police custody. They said many senior citizens approached police seeking their release but police have rejected their pleas.
Protests broke out at a few places including Mazhama and its neighbourhood. The protesters protested the alleged desecration of the dead bodies by police and forces Monday.
In the evening, people, defied curfew, and assembled on Srinagar-Gulmarg road near Kunzar Bridge demanding the release of arrested youth. They pelted stones forces with stones before being chased away by police.
Reports said protesters defied curfew at Khanpora, in North Kashmir’s Varmul town and staged protests against the fresh killings. Police and paramilitary forces caned and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the protesters who pelted stones on them. Witnesses said two persons were injured in police action.
The injured were identified as Tariq Ahmad Sofi son of Bashir Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad Khan so of Ali Muhammad, both residents of Khanpora. Tariq, 21, was shifted to SKIMS, Srinagar in a critical condition. He had a firearm injury in head.
Witnesses said protests also erupted in several localities of Sopur including Warpora, Bomia, Arampora and Haathishah. Police and CRPF used force to disperse the protesters.
Police said that protesters pelted stones on a CRPF camp at Bomai. One person, Khazir Mohammed Nadaf son of Habibullah Nadaf of Bomai was injured in clashes.
Police, however, said that he was injured after in the clashes after a group of locals “objected to stone-pelting on CRPF camp.” Police said it has registered an FIR.
Protests also broke out at Chogal and Harpora in Handwara; Drugmulla in Kupwara; Sumbal and Watpora in Bandipora. At Watpora, protesters attacked the house of a Congress activist, Habibullah Bhat of Watpora.
Later in the evening, three youths were wounded when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire near Kaloosa, Bandipore.
They said people had taken to streets to protest against the arrests of few youth from the Kaloosa locality. However, troopers opened fire injuring three youths, as Muhammad Akram, Sajad Ahmed and Ishfaq Ahmed They were rushed to a hospital.
Police said the forces dispersed the protesters using mild force. No one was injured.
At Mansbal in Ganderbal, youth from Mansbal, Kondbal, Yangoora and other adjoining areas marched towards Mansbal Park raising pro-freedom slogans. They damaged a tourist hut near the parking area. Police and CRPF forces soon swung into action and chased them away using and shot numerous tear smoke shells triggering clashes. One youth was injured in the clashes.
CENTRAL KASHMIR; 15 INJURED
At least 15 persons were injured, one of them critically, when police and CRPF opened fire to disperse stone pelting youth at two separate places in central Kashmir Budgam. Elsewhere in the district, situation continued to be tense even as curfew was clamped down in several areas, day after killing of six persons in police and CRPF firing. Protesters also attacked the house of provincial president of ruling National Conference.
Eight persons were injured when CRPF and police opened fire on a group of youth who had engaged the paramilitary troopers in stone pelting at Chadoora.
“One of the injured, Abdul Rashid Ganai, 45, was hit by a rubber bullet in chest. Though his bullet was removed at the Chadoora hospital he was referred to SKIMS for further treatment,” said a senior doctor working in one of the district hospitals. Seven other persons who had received minor injuries in the actions by the forces were treated at the Chadoora hospital, doctors said.
In a separate incident seven persons were injured when CRPF troopers of 174 battalion stationed at Doonwari near Wathora opened fire on group of stone pelting youth.
Of the eight persons, Bilal Ahmad Beg, 20, Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani, and Aqib Javaid—all three from Wathora area- who had received bullet injuries in firing by CRPF were referred to SMHS hospital.
While Beg had a bullet injury in abdomen and was shifted in critical condition, Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani had bullet injury in his left knee, and Aqib was hit by teargas shell in his left eye, doctors said.
“Aqib was working in his orchard when he was hit by a teargas shell,” sources said.
Four other persons who had received minor injuries in the incident were treated at a local hospital in the area, doctors said.
Reports said a group of youth also attacked the house of the Provincial President, National Conference, with stones in the Doonwari area. The security on guard resorted to aerial firing to chase away the youth who caused minor damage to the windowpanes of the house, reports said. However a top police official termed the reports as a “rumor.” “There was no such incident,” he said.
He however said at least eight CRPF troopers were injured in the stone pelting by the youth in the area.
At many places including Charar-i-Sharief announcement were made early in the morning with authorities asking people to stay indoors and respect curfew.
However massive pro-freedom protests broke out in main town Char, which witnessed killing of a 7th class student, Danish Nabi, in CRPF firing. Raising slogans the protestors took the roads and burnt down worn out tyres. But strict restriction were put in place in New Colony and other areas of the town with authorities putting in deployment of CRPF to prevent people from coming out.
The condition of two other youth from Char who were injured in CRPF firing and were shifted to Srinagar is reported to be stable.
Strict curfew was clamped down in Humhama area of the district where four persons, including a woman from Ompora, Budgam, were killed in police and CRPF firing over a procession, which was protesting over alleged desecration of Holy Quran in America.
Though protests also broke out in Ompora village and scores of peripheral villages of the district, the main town of Budgam remained comparatively calm as authorities had put in heavy deployment of CRPF and police in the entire area.
Situation continued to be tense in Nagam Kralpora, and other villages of the district with reports of anti-government protests being received from the places.
Reports said there was heavy deployment of police and CRPF in areas en-route to the Srinagar International airport, which has been closed down for three days for any air traffic to and from the Valley.
Meanwhile district health authorities have send to different Srinagar hospitals more than 150 points of blood which was donated for injured by people at Magam, Nowgam and Padshahi Bagh areas of the district, sources said.
SRINAGAR; 2 INJURED IN FIRING; BEMINA YOUTH CRITICAL
In the summer capital here protests broke out at Boatman colony, Bemina and Zainakot.
Protesters raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans blocked the Srinagar-Varmul highway near Boatman Colony and resorted to stone pelting on forces. One person was injured critically after police fired teargas shells and live ammunition to disperse them. The injured was shifted to SKIMS where doctors identified him as Fayaz Ahmad Naikoo, 32.
“He has a firearm injury in his brain. He has been operated upon,” a senior doctor at SKIMS said.
He said Fayaz was in a critical condition.
In Zainakot protesters attacked a paramilitary camp. The forces responded by caning, firing teargas shell and live ammunition. One protester, Mudasir Ahmad Dar of HMT was injured in the police action. He was shifted to SKIMS where he was kept in an ICU after being operated upon. He had firearm injuries in both legs.
A doctor at SKIMS said that they received eight injured persons during the day, of which two were from Srinagar and were from critical.
Elsewhere in the city, police and CRPF were deployed in large numbers. They imposed a strict curfew for the third day running and didn’t allow people to step out of their homes.
Through out the day police and CRPF vehicles fitted with loud speakers made rounds of localities asking people to stay indoors failing which they will be shot at.
KHALID GUL ADDS FROM SOUTH KASHMIR
At least 40 people were injured in clashes across the South Kashmir as people defied curfew at many areas includin Bijbehara, Islamabad, Pampore and some areas of Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam district while the teenager is still missing after he drowned in Jehlum river as he was chased by police and CRPF men on Monday at Khanabal in Islamabad town.
At least eight persons were injured two of them with bullets in police and CRPF action at Zirpura ,Bijbehara when locals defying curfew came to streets after the CRPF troopers allegedly ransacked many houses and injured many youth inside their homes. " Some youth were also arrested from the area," locals said.
One Imad Ahmad sustained head injury and was taken to the Sub-district hospital, Bijbehara.
The incident triggered massive protests in the area as men along women and children came on streets. Police fired 'indiscriminately' on the protesters resulting in critical injuries to two women, Sakina 25 , Rifat 26 who sustained bullet injuries in the buttocks and are undergoing treatment at the Sub-district hospital, Bijbehara. Clashes also erupted in Sangam area of the district of the National Highway. Several people sustained injuries there too.
Despite severe curfew restrictions, protests continued in Khanabal area of Islamabad as people alleged that police and CRPF men drowned one Raju Nath ,17, on Monday in the nearby Jehlum river by hurling a brick on his head inside the river. Raju is missing since Monday afternoon.
Authorities engaged Navy persons on Tuesday; however, they were unable to fish out the body of the teenager. Angry protesters torched a SOG wanton vehicle at Batengoo, Khanabal after the CRPF and police persons ran amok in the area and severely thrashed the inmates and ransacked the house hold goods. The clashes were on till last reports came in. Strict curfew was enforced in the Islamabad town and shoot at sight orders were in place after Monday’s incident in which a teenager, Aqib Ahmad Wagay, aged 14 who was killed outside the residence of Parliamentarian and senior NC leader Dr. Mehboob Beig at Sarnal. However, late in the evening youth engaged police in pitched battles at many areas of old town including , Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk , Reeshi Bazar, Kadipora, Sarnal, Mattan Chowk, Dangerpora, Lal Chowk and in some K.P road areas; Lazbal, Gulshanabad, Naibasti and Khanabal.
On Monday night police and CRPF troops allegedly looted money and ransacked house of , District Bar Association president and Democratic Freedom Party leader, Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar.
Curfew was extended to the peripheries of Islamabad including Mattan, Dialgam, Achabal, Dooru, Shangus and Kokernag. However, clashes broke out in Dooru. Several people including the cops were injured.
In Srigufwara area of Bijbehara 6 persons sustained rubber bullet injures after they clashed with CRPF troops stationed in the area. Clashes were on until last reports came in.
Kulgam
In Malpora, Wanpoh area of Kulgam a female, Nidu Jan, aged 15 daughter of Muhammad Yousuf Dar received head injuries after CRPF and police went berserk and barged into the houses mercilessly beating the inmates including women. Another youth Khurshid Ahmad Dar son of Ghulam Muhmamd Dar was also injured in the police action.
The injured were being treated in the hospital.
Meanwhile, Kulgam town remained under strict curfew, however, clashes were reported from Naikpora after some youth were arrested from the area. People also staged pro-freedom demonstrations in the peripheral areas like Chawalgam.
Intense clashes broke out in Khudwani after police detained six youth. Seven people were injured as police fired tear smoke canister to disperse the protestors who tried to attack the CRPF bunker.
Curfew was also clamped in the Qaimoh town while clashes broke late in the evening. In Bogund village of Kulgam the CRPF persons without any provocation barged into several houses ransacked the house hold goods and thrashed the inmates. Protest demonstrations also broke out in Aishmuji, Frisal and Redwani areas.
Pulwama
After three people were killed and 50 injured on Monday in police and CRPF firing in the Pampore township. People defied curfew in Namlabal and Kadlabal after police detained several youth.
The arrests triggered clashes as youth fought pitched battles with police and CRPF who resorted to arial firing and also fired tear gas canisters resulting in injuries to 12 people.
Locals alleged that late in the evening CRPF went berserk and ransacked many houses and also damaged window panes of many private vehicles.
People staged demonstrations on the Srinagar -Jammu Highway to protest the killings and the CRPF action in the area.
CRPF troops allegedly ransacked the house of late Peoples League (PL) leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and also injured his relatives. Clashes also erupted in Khrew and Samboora areas.
Strict Curfew was imposed in Pulwama and Kakapora towns. However, pro-freedom demonstrations rocked in the peripheral areas of Prechoo, Bunura, Pachibugg, Chatpora. Several people were injured in the clashes.
Reports of pro-freedom demonstrations were also received from Tral and Awantipora.
Shopian
Strict curfew was imposed in Shopian town also. However, 17 persons were injured when police and CRPF personal resorted to cane charging and tear gas shelling in the peripheral areas of Aliyarpora, Kanipora and Gagran.
Clashes were reported from the town late in the evening.
Police Speaks
“A mob defied curfew in Khanpora Baramulla (Vamul) this morning and indulged in heavy pelting on the forces. The police used tear smoke shells to disperse them. One miscreant has got injured. A mob attacked battalion Headquarters of forces in Zainakote on the outskirts of Srinagar city. In the retaliatory action one miscreant got injured. His condition is stable.
Meanwhile, in the after mob pelted stones on security forces in Boatman colony. The forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the mob. The miscreants did not relent. The pelting was very intense in the response action of the security forces one person has got injured. He has been referred to SKIMS, Soura,” a police spokesman said.
“Some miscreants defied curfew in Chadoora in Budgam and pelted stones on forces. Stone pelting has also been reported from Sumbal in Bandipore district. In Bandipore a mob pelted stones on the house of Ex MLC Habeebullah at Watipora. Some miscreants pelted stones on forces in Harapora Handwara,” he added.
“Last evening an unruly mob set ablaze the building of a private school at Pulwama. The residential house, cowshed and a fire wood shed belonging to a police constable was set on fire at Thandan, Kreeri.”
“A group clash erupted between two groups in Bomai in Sopur in which one person was injured. A group of miscreants from a village Tujjar had come over to Bomai to attack the CRPF camp. This camp has been attacked a number of times in the past. The miscreants started pelting stones on the camp. The local people of Bomai objected to it, which led to heated exchanges and a clash erupted between the two groups,” spokesman said.
In this clash, he claimed, Khazir Muhammad Nadaf son of Habib ul Nadaf of Bomai was injured in head.






Lastupdate on : Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time