6 injured in clashes, dozens detained
Srinagar: Kashmir valley observed complete shutdown on Sunday against the killing of a 17 year old Farhat Dar at Naidkhai Bandipora during the firing by forces on Friday.
The two factions of Hurriyat Conference had called for a one day strike against the killing and had urged people to stay indoors on Sunday. Meanwhile JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik Sunday in a statement reiterated his call for the sit-in at Lal Chowk on Monday.
Government also imposed restrictions in various areas across Srinagar and Bandipora on second consecutive day with the separatist leaders including Huriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief continued to remain under house arrest since Friday night.
The KNS district correspondent from Bandipora informed that with the imposition of curfew in various areas including Naidkhai of North Kashmir’s Bandipora, police had sealed all the roads leading to the home town of the slain youth with the concertina wires laid down with the huge deployment of police and paramilitary forces.
Reports reaching KNS maintained further that the incidents of stone pelting took place at several places in valley with the people holding protest demonstrations against Farhat’s killing. Clashes between forces and protesters took place at main Chowk Bandipora, Nowpora, Banger Mohalla Hajan, Khankahi mohalla Hajan, Chaki Sadarkoot Balla, Naidkhai, Sultanpora where amid curfew; people took to streets and raised pro-freedom slogans. Protesters also hurled stones on the forces deployed in the area due to which police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the mob. More than six people were injured during the clashes while as several have been detained by the police.
Reports of stone pelting are also coming from North Kashmir’s Lalpora- Kupwara, Palhallan-Pattan and at Baramulla. Police used teargas shells to thwart the protest demonstrations.
In Srinagar, transport was off the roads with only some private vehicle plying in upper town areas of city. Roads of old city wore deserted look and concertina wire laid down at various places in downtown area and many road links were sealed by the security forces.
Huge deployment of forces was made to thwart any protest demonstration. Restrictions were also clamped on pedestrian and vehicular movement in the old city. The official spokesman of the district administration told KNS over phone that the day passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from any area of Srinagar.
According to a police statement, situation remained peaceful throughout the Kashmir valley. “However, stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from main Chowk Bandipora and Hajan in Bandipora, Barsoo in Ganderbal and Azad Gunj in Baramulla. However, there were no reports of injury to anyone, till last reports came in,” reads the police statement issued to KNS.
Pertinently, a 17 year old youth Farhat Dar son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar of Naidkhai Bandipora was killed due to the police firing on Friday evening. The Deputy Commissioner Bandipora had ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident .Police also registered FIR and has started inquest proceedings into the case. (KNS)