Clashes continue in Valley, 70 hurt

Ehsan Fazili & Suhail A Shah

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Anantnag, Aug 30

Amid the continuing shutdown, clashes between protesters and police personnel took place at several places in the summer capital and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley as curfew continued in areas under two police stations of the old city today.

Around 70 persons were injured in clashes across the Valley on the 53rd day of the current unrest. The police said barring a few minor stone-throwing incidents, the overall situation remained peaceful and under control throughout the Valley.

It was for the second consecutive day that curfew was lifted from most areas of the summer capital, except for areas under the police stations of Nowhatta and MR Gunj. Downtown areas under five police stations had reeled under curfew since the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

Demonstrations and clashes were reported from the Batamaloo and Bagh-e-Mehtab areas. Protesting youths engaged police and CRPF men in clashes, with the personnel retaliating with teargas shells in a bid to quell demonstrators. Residents alleged that CRPF men ransacked their houses.

There were reports of protests in parts of north Kashmir like Hathlangoo and Chinkipora in Sopore, Kaloosa and Bandipora.

At least 50 persons, including a 55-year-old woman and a journalist, were injured in clashes after security forces personnel allegedly conducted raids and tried to foil rallies in Anantnag and Shopian districts of south Kashmir. Several persons, including a 60-year-old man, were arrested by the police in Anantnag district.

Curfew was lifted from Pulwama district while restrictions under Section 144 and a shutdown called by separatists continued. Clashes erupted in Muhammadabad village of Dooru in Anantnag district after security forces personnel allegedly thrashed some persons and damaged property.

At least 10 persons were injured during firing by security forces personnel. One of them, a 55-year-old woman, received injuries in the head and chest. She was reported to be out of danger.

Security forces tried to foil a rally by firing teargas shells and pellets in the Zaban area of Qazigund. Twenty persons were injured during the action and subsequent clashes. The injured were being treated in local hospitals and there were no reports of serious injuries so far.