Curfew in Kashmir: Three policemen among 8 injured in clashes
Srinagar: Curfew clamped on Kashmir Valley on Wednesday was relaxed in Srinagar and Handwara districts by evening. Besides the four districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora in Kashmir, curfew was also imposed in
Awantipora. "Authorities relaxed restrictions in the curfew bound areas of district
Srinagar from 5 pm onwards while in Handwara, these restrictions were relaxed from
3 pm onwards," said a Jammu and Kashmir release. "Elsewhere, situation continues
to remain normal and under control throughout the Kashmir Valley, at this hour," the
release stated.
At least eight persons, including three policemen, suffered injuries
after a group of protestors clashed with security personnel and resorted to
stone-pelting during curfew in the State's Bandipora district. The injured persons
included five civilians and three policemen. On Wednesday morning, the authorities
here had clamped curfew in Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts
besides Awantipora town, in view of the march called by moderate faction of
Hurrriyat to the office of the UN Military Observers' Group for India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP). The proposed march was supported by the hardline faction headed
by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. According to officials, today's clash occurred after a
group of protestors, defying curfew restrictions, took to streets in the morning in
Bandipora, 50 kilometres from Srinagar. Police and other security forces used
batons to chase the protestors away but the youth starting pelting stones at them.
Curfew has been imposed in four districts to foil a march planned by the separatists
to the United Nations office in Srinagar. To prevent the situation from going out of
control, security forces lobbed teargas shells and fired Pump Action Guns. Several
separatist leaders have been put under house arrest. Over a dozen activists of
Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat were taken into preventive custody on Tuesday night.
Market places were completely shut down in the Valley and barbed wire fencing and
barricades erected as police vehicles conducted round-the-clock patrolling. Public
transport remained off roads causing problems for commuters. At least 110 people
have been killed since June, in clashes between security forces and protestors. The
recent wave of protests in Kashmir subsided after New Delhi relaxed security in
Srinagar, freed some 50 protestors, announced compensation for families of the dead
and offered to talk to all political groups. But many Kashmiris dismiss the offer
as inadequate and hardliner separatists said they would press on with protests.
