Palhalan township under curfew

SYED YASIR. Dated: 10/20/2013 10:54:48 AM

SRINAGAR, Oct 19: Curfew remained in force in Palhalan township of north Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day today after clashes erupted between forces and local youths on Eid day which resulted in the death of a police driver and injuries to few cops.
The restrictions, however, like past three days were eased two hours early in the evening. The curfew was clamped in the town following the violent protests on Wednesday. A police vehicle was stoned by youth in Palhallan. The driver of the vehicle lost control and the bus turned turtle which resulted in injuries to the three cops. Later, a cop, who was identified as Kanwal Nain Singh, succumbed to injuries.
Reports said that the announcements about the curfew being in place were made through public address systems early morning today. Locals said that police and para-military CRPF men wearing riot gear and armed with automatic weapons manned the streets of the township throughout the day and nobody was allowed to venture out.
Streets of Palhallan and its adjacent areas wore deserted look. Spools of concertina wire were laid down and mobile bunkers erected to thwart any fresh protests.
Locals said that soon after the incident, huge contingents of police and paramilitary Central reserve Police Force (CRPF) reached Palhallan and imposed harsh restrictions.
The restrictions in the area also continued on Saturday with police, CRPF and Army barring locals to venture out. However, normal traffic movement was plying on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.
Locals said that after the incident, they are under strict curfew and no is being allowed to come out of residential houses as the huge contingents of police and CRPF were deployed in the area throughout the day.
Reports also said that security forces have hoisted red flags on the national highway conveying the locals not to come out from the houses.
“We are without electricity and water supply from last three days. The government is avenging cop’s death on the local population. The area was reeling under darkness since Wednesday noon. After the violent clashes, the electricity went off in the area. We have seen electricity today evening after three days. Also, the water supply to the village has been cut-off by forces,” the locals said.
The locals also said that when the entire Kashmir was celebrating Eid festival, they were terrorised by the police and CRPF. People alleged they were not allowed to enter go to the Masjid for prayers. “So many policemen and CRPF personnel had cordoned the Masjid and were not allowing anyone to enter into it for prayers,” one of the residents said.

 

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