Protest, Curfew, Shutdown Continue In Kashmir
By Sheikh Imran Bashir
16 August, 2010
Agence India Press
Srinagar: Heavy firing was reported this afternoon around Tengpora-Batamaloo in which at least six people were wounded when police and Rapid Action Force used force to disperse the protestors at Tengpora in Srinagar today.
At several places people took to streets and protest against the civilians killings in Kashmir.
In Bandipora, scores of people have assembled near the house of Abdul Ahad Jan, a suspended police officer who hurled a shoe towards Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on August 15.
The authorities have clamped strict curfew and restriction across the Bandipora town since morning today but people of adjoining areas, defied the curfew and were moving towards Jan’s town. Thousands of people who had assembled near Jan’s residence in Ajas at Bandipora were protesting against police and the administration. People were raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Jan's brother, Sanaullah Jan, accused authorities of lying when they said Jan was mentally unwell and had been suspended.
"He is very sensitive and felt sad over the killings in the valley, he said.
Following his arrest, Jan was hospitalized later Sunday after he became sick, the officer said.
On Monday, Jan again shouted pro-freedom slogans at the hospital and told reporters he wanted to meet Abdullah. "I'll expose all the lies of state police," he said.
Curfew has also been imposed in Baramulla, Sopore and Kupwara towns to prevent protests. Despite heavy police and CRPF deployment, people defied the curfew in old town Baramulla and took to the streets after the Fajr (dawn) prayers to protest against the civilian killings in police and CRPF firing.
Protest also broke out in at several places in south Kashmir where people marched to the streets after the Fajr prayers today. At Laizbal Ananthnag scores of youth marched towards streets in the morning and protested against the civilian killings. However, police came into action and dispersed the protestors.
Meanwhile, people offered prayers on road at Batamaloo area and later set ablaze the effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and shout pro-freedom slogans.
Locals told Agence India Press that hundreds of people assembled at Barapathar area of Batamaloo and offered Nimaz-e-Asar on the roads. After the prayers, they raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and burn the effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. However, the protest later dispersed peacefully.
In other incident, woman was critically injured when police fired many of tear gas shells at the protestors who were protesting against the arrest of a youth at Shalimar area on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Reports reaches to Agence India Press says that hundreds of people took to the streets to protest the arrest of a youth, who was reportedly arrested by police. Police swung into action and fired dozens of tear gas shells to disperse the mob in which tear gas shell hit a woman .
Life across the valley remained crippled on Monday as authorities imposed strict curfew and restrictions across Kashmir to fail the protest call given by the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Ali Geelani had called for street protests and protest shutdown to continue.
Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled nearly deserted streets in Srinagar. Forces laid razor wire and erected steel barricades to block access to downtown.
Kashmir valley is witness of protests and clashes since from last two months in which 59 civilians have been killed in police and CRPF firing.
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