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Day 3: Death toll touches 3, Curfew continues
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/11/2013 11:03:32 PM
Fresh clashes in north, south Kashmir
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: The death toll in the police action against protestors touched three today amid curfew remaining in force for the third consecutive in Kashmir.
People continued to defy curfew restrictions at several places and hold demonstrations. Police burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge to disperse protestors. Sixty persons were reported injured in clashes today.
With the situation deteriorating, 24 additional companies are being rushed to Kashmir to assist police.
Normal life continued to remain paralysed due to the curfew and general strike, called in protest against the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru. Today was also the death anniversary of JKLF founder chairman Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984. His body was also buried in Tihar Jail. Rich tributes were paid to him by various parties including JKLF, while protest demonstrations were held at his ancestral graveyard at Trehgam.
Fifteen year old Ubaid Ahmad Rather of Watergam, who was injured in police firing in his village yesterday, succumbed to his injuries in SKIMS here. Body of Zameer Ahmad Dar was recovered from river Jehlum at Sumbal today. He and another youth Tariq Ahmad had jumped into the river after they were allegedly chased by CRPF during the protest and drowned. Body of Tariq was recovered last evening. Police claimed that their boat had capsized in the river but locals strongly denied the police claim.
People in large number took to streets as the body of Ubaid reached Watergam today. They raised pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans. Police and security forces laid a siege around Watergam and did not allow the people from adjoining villages to reach there. Protests continued at Watergam throughout the day.
Protest demonstrations were also held at Thokarpora, Rafiabad, and Kralgund in north Kashmir. Police and paramilitary forces burst smoke shells and resorted to cane charge. The people at Sopar Naghama alleged that the forces entered into their houses, ransacked those and beat the inmates.
Protest demonstrations continued since morning at Chinkipora, Batapora and Rahim Saheb areas in Sopore. Police and CRPF personnel burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge. The protestors pelted stones at the men in uniform.
Despite tight security arrangements at Baramulla, people took to streets and held demonstrations. This led to clashes between the two sides in which a number of persons and cops were injured. The protestors tried to take out processions but cops stopped them at Azad Gunj and Chattipadshahi Bridge. This resulted in exchange of stone pelting. A number of persons including Rajesh Tiwari of CRPF.
Cops fired smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge at Khanmpora in Baramulla. The demonstraors also used kangris during the clashes.
Police burst smoke shells to disperse protestors at Kakapora in Pulwama also. The protestors also pelted stones.
Masasive protest demonstrations were also held at Batwani Ganderal after the body of Zamir Ahmad Dar, recovered from river Jehlum, was taken there. The protestors alleged that the body bore torture marks.
Protests were also held at Maisuma here. Cops used force to disperse them. A panchayat ghar was set ablaze by protestors at Katrasoo in Achabal.
Police today arrested separatist leaders Mohamad Yousuf Naqash, Mohammad Shafi Reshi, Farooq Ahmad Dar and Noor Mohammad Kalwal.
Because of the curfew and general strike called by separatist shops, other business establishments and government offices remained closed. Transport was also off the roads. Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces continued to enforce curfew.