Clashes continue; forces target houses, vehicles in old city
SYED ALI SAFVI
SRINAGAR, Oct 10: Normal life across the troubled Kashmir valley continued to remain paralysed as the valley observed complete shutdown today in response to strike call given by Geelani-led Hurriyat conference as a part of its ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir campaign.
Clashes erupted between forces and protestors in old Srinagar city, Baramulla, Shopian, Handwara and several other villages and towns in the valley. A youth was hit by a teargas shell on his head during clashes in Baramulla. He was rushed to SHMS hospital where his condition was stated to be critical.
In old city, paramilitary CPRF men, entered into the residential areas and went berserk. Eyewitnesses said that following their face off with protestors, the CRPF men, deployed heavily on the streets, damaged several vehicles and smashed window panes of residential houses.
Pertinently, markets and streets in Srinagar wore an almost deserted look as traders, shoppers and commuters preferred to stay indoors in the wake of shutdown call given by Hurriyat Conference, led by veteran separatist, Syed Ali Geelani. Unlike in the past, the state government had not clamped curfew in the city.
According to reports, irate youth took to streets at Saida Kadal, Rainawari, Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara, and other adjoining areas and started pelting stones at police and CRPF men and also towards some vehicles parked on the streets.
The forces swung into action and threw back stones towards protestors. They also fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors.
According to the reports, residents of the areas where heavy clashes broke out between troops and protestors alleged that the troops, while trying to quell the protestors, entered into the interior areas and smashed the window panes of dozens of residential houses, vehicles, and auto rickshaws. They said that the forces also roughed up several pedestrians.
As the situation in the old city grew tense, additional forces were deployed on the streets, lanes and by-lanes to thwart any attempt of protests.
The reports said that after the clashes at Gojwara and its adjoining areas, police and CRPF intensified the restrictions at Gojwara, Islamia College, Hawal, Nala-mar road, Nawhatta, Rajouri Kadal.
Reports of clashes between protestors and forces also poured in from Saida Kadal, Rainawari. Protestors took to streets at Bulbul Lankar, Rainawari, Saida Kadal, and started pelting stones towards police and CRPF men deployed in the area. The forces swung into action and chased away the protestors. Eyewitnesses said that after the clashes, irate police and CRPF men entered into Bulbul Lankar, Rahbab Sahib, Nawa Kadal, and other adjoining areas and smashed window panes of several residential houses, vehicles there.
The vehicles and auto rickshaws which were damaged included that of Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of Bulbul Lankar, Bilal Ahmad Gilkar (Santro, JK01M - 8822), Farooq Ahmad Ahangar (Maruti, JK01F – 4543), Asadullah Naqash (Maruti), Abdul Rashid Hazar (Load carrier JK01K – 4843), Abdul Majeed Mattoo (Auto JK01E – 3627), Farooq Ahmad Gujree (Tata Sumo), Javaid Ahmad Ganie (Auto, JK01C – 1682).
The situation in Sopore grew tense after a group of youth started pelting stones towards CRPF men at around 11:00AM. Intense clashes broke out between forces and protestors at Khana Khun. The forces swung into action and resorted to cane charge and burst several tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors. Eyewitnesses said that a teargas shell hit a youth, Wasim Akbar, on his head. He was immediately rushed to Sopore hospital and then to SMHS hospital Srinagar where his condition was stated to be critical.
To thwart more protests in the area, authorities later imposed curfew in the area.
According to the reports, troopers of 6-RR forced shopkeepers at Magam Handwara to open their shops. The incident triggered widespread anger in the area and announcements were made through loudspeakers, appealing to the people to hold protests against forces’ highhandedness.
The forces resorted to cane charge and burst tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors.
Protests and clashes were also reported from Bemina, Chattabal, Batamaloo.
Meanwhile, police today arrested brother and father of Umar Ashraf, allegedly involved in the killing of a policeman on September 13, 2010 and detained them in police station Budgam.
According to the reports, a friend of Umar’s brother had visited the police station to meet Umar, however, he was also put behind the bars.
The Budgam police have also received one more remand against separatist leader, Imtiyaz Haider, in the same case.
Significantly, a vehicle had run over a police man on September 13 outside Budgam police station. After preliminary investigation, police charged 21-year-old Umar Ashraf son of Mohammad Ashraf of Housing Colony Ompora for the killing. They said that Umar had deliberately run his Maruti vehicle over the slain cop.
Meanwhile, police had placed chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest to prevent him from taking part in the Majlis-e Amal sponsored “Youm-e Aseeran” (Day of detenues) programme. The police had also seized off all the roads leading to Mirwaiz Manzil.
Mirwaiz termed the police action as their “frustration”, and said that the Eidgah-Lalchowk march had shaken the government.
In a statement issued to the press, he said that the government functioning had remained confined to imposition of curfew, restriction, crackdown, and placing the leaders under house arrest.
Jammu Kashmir Awami Majlis had convened a special session at Mirwaiz Manzil today in protest against the continuous detention of thousands of Kashmiris and showing solidarity with youth of Kashmir. The invitees included Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and other Hurriyat (M) and pro-freedom leaders.
To thwart the programme, police had since this morning cordoned off the Mirwaiz Manzil and seized off all the roads leading to the Manzil.
“This speaks volumes about the frustration of the government,” he said. “I wonder how long they would continue to suppress the aspirations of people by using police and paramilitary forces.”
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