Complete strike in rest of district

SHABIR AHMAD. Dated: 12/30/2012 2:00:50 AM

Curfew, clashes continue in Pulwama

SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Curfew continued for the second consecutive day today in Pulwama, while police and paramilitary forces had to burst smoke shells and resort to lathi-charge to disperse the protestors.
A complete shut down was observed in the non-curfew bound areas of the district against the killing of two militants in an encounter, and firing by forces and police on protestors.
Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces was made to enforce curfew. They had sealed all the entry and exit points to Pulwama town. Srinagar-Pulwama, Newa-Pulwama and Shopian- Pulwama roads were blocked with armoured vehicles and barbed wire.
The people were being directed to remain indoors. Despite strict curfew, people took to streets and held demonstrations at Muran Chowk in the town. Cops burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protestors. The demonstrators pelted stones on cops. Clashes continued for some time in the area.
A complete shut down was observed in the areas of Pulwama district, where curfew was not imposed. Shops, other business establishments and government offices remained closed. Transport was also off the roads. Large number of people visited the residences of two slain militants, killed in an encounter at Chandigam yesterday.
Pulwama town witnessed clashes yesterday after the security forces fired indiscriminately on
the people at two different places Chandigam and Pulwama. They were protesting against the atrocities during an encounter, in which two militants were killed and two army officers and a police man injured.
Eight civilians were injured some of the critically in the firing by the forces which triggered massive protests and violent clashes between the angry protestors and the police. Sensing trouble the authorities imposed curfew in the township last evening.
“The forces who were manning every street of the township did not allow anybody to move out. Even elderly people were barred from going to mosques in their localities. It was the strictest curfew,” a resident, Manzoor Ahmad told Kashmir Times.
However, clashes between the forces and youth erupted in the evening when the forces started moving back to their stations. “As the forces who enforced restrictions during the day started moving back to their
camps the youth in large numbers took to streets and resorted to heavy stone pelting. The forces retaliated by lobbing tear gas shells triggering fierce clashes,” said the reports.
Deputy commissioner, Pulwama, Shafat Noor, said that the decision about relaxation in curfew will be taken after assessing the situation.
“If people remain calm and situation remains peaceful there will be no need to impose curfew but if people again try to disrupt peace we will have to maintain the law and order. The decision about the curfew completely depends on how the people respond,” Shafat said.

 

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