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Strict curfew in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama; march foiled

SHABIR AHMAD. Dated: 9/10/2013 11:45:26 PM

SRINAGAR, Sep 10 :The authorities today extended the curfew to Kulgam and Pulwama districts to foil the Shopian march. The call for the solidarity march to homes of three youth killed by CRPF on Saturday was given by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Four persons including three locals, Towseef Ahmad of Shopian, Mohammad Yusuf of Zainapora and
Tariq Ahmad Mir of Okai Kulgam were shot dead by the CRPF men of 14 Battalion near Gagran when they were riding on motor cycles.
Police identified the fourth deceased as Abdullah Haroon of LeT, while locals allege that he too is an outside labourer. The killings triggered massive protests and fierce clashes in Shopian after
which authorities imposed curfew in the town.
Even as the strict curfew remained in force for the third consecutive day in Shopian, the authorities today imposed curfew in two other neighbouring districts, Pulwama and Kulgam to foil any march to Shopian.
Reports said that hundreds of CRPF and policemen equipped with sophisticated weapons and riot gear enforced the curfew in the entire Shopian town. Forces, reports and eyewitnesses said, had sealed allthe main and link roads connecting the town to other districts and peripheries. “All the entry points on the main and link roads had been blocked with razor wire and barricades. Armoured vehicles were also used to foil any march towards the town by the people from peripheries
and other districts,” reports said. Despite the sealing of roads people from many villages tried to march towards Shopian but were intercepted at many places like Tukroo, Shirmal, Narwaw and Gagran leading o clashes between the two sides.
“The fierce clashes broke out near Gagran after the marchers were not allowed to move ahead. Youth resorted to heavy stone pelting at forces who in return burst tear smoke shells and fired rubber bullets. At least seven persons were injured during the clashes after being hit by tear smoke canisters and rubber bullets. The clashes continued throughout the day,” eyewitnesses said.
Some of the injured were identified as Yasir Farooq, Shahid, Owais Ahmad Tantry, Shabir Khursheed and Amir Sofi and Ghulam Hassan.
Eyewitnesses said the CRPF men after failing to chase away the protesting and stone pelting youth went on a rampage and smashed the window panes of several houses in Gagran area.
“They also barged into the houses and ransacked the household goods,” locals said.
Clashes, reports said also erupted in other localities of the town despite curfew. “In Baba Mohalla, Alyalpora, Jan Mohalla and Bagandar localities youth tried to defy the curfew and pelted stones at forces several times during the day triggering clashes between them and the forces who burst numerous tear smoke shells in return,” reports said.
In the evening as the deployment was withdrawn youth in huge numbers came out of their houses and clashed with the forces again. The youth also took out a procession which marched through many streets of the town amid pro-freedom slogans.
In Kulgam and Pulwama townships strict curfew was also imposed to foil the solidarity march to Shopian.
In both the townships, reports said, huge contingents of police and CRPF were deployed to keep the people indoors. However in Laroo and Chawalgam villages clashes broke out after the youth tried to defy the curfew and resorted to stone pelting at forces deployed there in huge numbers. Forces, eyewitnesses said, burst numerous tear gas shells to chase away the youth. However, no reports of clashes were reported from Pulwama.