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9 days after Guru’s execution, life returns to normalcy

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/18/2013 11:25:21 PM

Protests, clashes continue in Pulwama, Shopian

SRINAGAR, Feb 18: Normal life returned to normalcy in Kashmir after nine days of curfew and strike following the execution of parliament attack convict, Mohammad Afzal Guru. However, tension gripped Pulwama and Shopian in South Kashmir where protests and clashes erupted between security forces and youth demanding return of Guru’s mortal remains.
Trouble began in Pulwama early this morning when scores of youth, who had assembled in the market threw stones on the police vehicles when they passed through the Chowk. Everything was normal and people were about to resume their business but at around 9.00 AM as soon as the police vehicle reached near the main Chowk in Pulwama dozens of youth who had already gathered there resorted to heavy stone pelting triggering clashes,” eyewitnesses said. Police later resorted to heavy tear gas shelling and aerial firing to disperse the stone pelting youth and arrested several of them in Pulwama and Shopian.
The eyewitnesses said the clashes later spread to other localities of the township which continued till late afternoon. “Forces resorted to heavy teargas shelling and aerial firing to chase away the stone pelting youth. Besides police arrested more than dozen youth during the clashes,” an eyewitness said.
During the clashes, nearly 10 police and CRPF men were injured. Locals alleged that the forces after failing to chase the stone pelting youth beat the pedestrians indiscriminately. Fearing more violent clashes authorities later deployed huge contingent of police and Para-military forces in the town to keep the situation under control. The clashes led to the complete shutdown in the town with all the shops, other business establishments and private and government offices remaining closed for the 10th consecutive day.
In Shopian trouble erupted at around 1:30 pm when the reports of the rejection of the appeal of Gurus family about the return of his body to them by the centre reached the town. “As soon as the reports reached the town through social media scores of youth assembled in the market and started protests. They also attacked DC office with stones and bricks. The youth later organized themselves in various groups and clashed with police and CRPF men in different localities of the town,” eyewitnesses said.
They clashes which continued for more than an hour triggered complete shutdown in the township. “Police during the clashes arrested several youth for their alleged involvement in stone pelting, however all of them were released later,” they said.
Meanwhile normal life resumed in rest of the district headquarters and other townships of the valley today. Since there was no strike call from any separatist organization today people in other districts including Srinagar, Anantnag, Kupwara, Budgam, Ganderbal and Kulgam districts resumed their business today.