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Curfewed Srinagar: BSF personnel patrolling Lal Chowk on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)
Curfewed Srinagar: BSF personnel patrolling Lal Chowk on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

Kashmir valley continued to reel under curfew and restrictions for the 50th consecutive day in the wake of mass civil uprising following the killing of popular Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 08, 2016.

Curfew continued to be in force in five police station areas of Srinagar city and Maisuma areas in uptown, a police official said.

As resistance leaders have planned to march and hand over 'Quit J&K' letter to Army commander based at Badambagh Cantonment Srinagar, the Rashtriya Rifles personnel erected barricades in and around the 15 Corps headquarter.PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
As resistance leaders planned to march and hand over ‘Quit J&K’ letter to Army commander based at Badambagh Cantonment Srinagar, the Rashtriya Rifles personnel erected barricades in and around the 15 Corps headquarter. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

In south Kashmir, curfew was imposed in Pulwama district, while it continued in Islamabad, Kulgam districts as well on Saturday.

The army personnel stopping and checking identity cards of civilians walking near 15 Corps headquarter in Badambagh area of Srinagar as resistance leaders plan to handover 'Quit J&K' letter to Corps commander.PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
The army personnel stopping and checking identity cards of civilians walking near 15 Corps headquarter in Badambagh area of Srinagar.

Curfew and restrictions also remained in force in North Kashmir’s restive area’s including Sopore, Pattan, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara.

The united resistance leadership had planned a march up to 15 Corps headquarter of India Army at Badambagh to present letters to Army commander asking them to “vacate” Jammu and Kashmir.

Police arrest Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, during a protest in Srinagar on August 27, 2016. PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
Syed Ali Geelani marched towards 15 Corps headquarter at Badambagh but was arrested by police on Srinagar International Airport at Hyderpora. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

All the roads leading towards Badambagh were sealed while the movement of people was restricted by erecting barbed wires at a number of spots in Srinagar city.

Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani was arrested by police when he was marching towards Badambagh. Later, he read the letter to media persons who had reached his Hyderpora residence-cum-office around 2 PM today.

A massive pro-freedom rally was held in Bugam in South Kashmir's Kulgam district on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Shah Hilal)
A massive pro-freedom rally was held in Bugam in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Shah Hilal)

As usual, strict curfew remained in force in Old Srinagar city while the movement of the people and commuters were restricted in uptown.

Early in the morning, a JKP ‘Selection Grade’ constable was shot dead from close range by unknown gunmen in Quil area. On way to District Police Lines Pulwama, he was identified as Khurshid Ahmad.

Protests erupted in Marhama Sangam area of South Kashmir’s Islamabad district on Saturday morning after people fished out the body of a 25-year-old youth from the river Jehlum who according to locals had jumped into the river when para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were chasing the protesters in the area on Friday evening.

The Bugam rally on August 27, 2016.
The Bugam rally on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Shah Hilal)

The deceased youth has been identified as Shahnawaz Ahmed Khatana, son of Muhammad Iqbal, a resident of Duddoo Marhama.

Eyewitnesses said that a large number of people hit roads and raised pro-freedom slogans.

They accused CRPF of murder and said that a group of protesters were chased away by CRPF personnel near Marhama while the youth in a bid to save his life jumped into the river Jehlum.

Shahnawaz Ahmad Khatana
Shahnawaz Ahmad Khatana

“The operation to retrieve his body was started by locals and his body was recovered from the river on Saturday morning,” the protesting locals said.

Reports from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district said that in a bid to thwart a pro-freedom rally, forces fired pellets and tear-smoke shells to disperse people in Bugam area resulting in the injuries to at least twelve persons.

Hundreds of women rushed to Marhama to bid farewell to Shahnawaz Ahmad Khatana.
Hundreds of women marched to Marhama to bid farewell to Shahnawaz Ahmad Khatana.

Reports said that despite the use of force, a massive pro-freedom rally was organized in the village.

Witnesses said around twenty-thousand people attended the rally where pro-freedom slogans were raised.

People from several Kulgam villages like Mohanpora, Ara, Bachroo, Tarigam, Yaripora, Frisal and Kujar attended the Ittihaad-i-Millat rally, they said.

KashmiriYouths hold images of Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, during a protest in Srinagar on August 27, 2016. PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
Pro-freedom protest demonstration held on Srinagar international road at Hyderpora. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

Pro-freedom rallies were also organized in Kanjivular village of adjoining Shopian district while an all-women rally was held Barbugh in Imam Sahib area of Shopian.

Over a dozen people were injured when forces fired pellets and tear-smoke shells on people who had gathered in Hanjuvera village of Pattan town in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district to organize a pro-freedom rally on Saturday morning.

The locals alleged that forces personnel arrived in civil trucks and without any provocation attacked the people.

They alleged that forces personnel after targeting people with pellets and tear-smoke shells ransacked houses and thrashed people including women and children.

People offer 'Zuhr Namaz' (mid-day prayers) at a mass pro-freedom rally in Bugam Kulgam on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Shah Hilal)
People offer ‘Zuhr Namaz’ (mid-day prayers) at a mass pro-freedom rally in Bugam Kulgam on August 27, 2016. (KL Image: Shah Hilal)

“A peaceful pro-freedom rally was scheduled to be held in our Hanjivera Bala village. The para-military CRPF and SOG Pattan suddenly arrived there and targeted us with pellets and tear-gas shells without any provocation,” said locals.

The locals added that over a dozen people were injured in forces action; some of them were shifted to Srinagar for treatment.

“One youth, youth Mushtaq Ahmed, was critically injured after he was hit by a tear-gas shell in his head,” they said.

Doctors at sub-district hospital Pattan said that they referred a youth to Srinagar hospital as he had serious pellet injuries in his eyes.

Kashmir's ace artist portraying blinding of Kashmiris in latest portrait.
Kashmir’s ace artist, Masood Hussain, portraying blinding of Kashmiris in latest portrait.

When contacted SSP Baramulla Mir Imtiyaz Hussain said, “a large number of youth had blocked highway who were checking the identity cards of commuters. When police intervened they pelted stones on the security forces and few tear-smoke shells were lobbed to disperse them.”

Meanwhile, in Pattan town two members of a family were shifted to SDH Hospital Pattan after they were hit by pellets.

Reports from North Kashmir’s Bandipora said that hundreds of people from Kaloosa came out on roads against the excesses of army. The locals said that army damaged houses and other private property.

Reports from Wusan Kangan said that forces created “mayhem” in the area, thrashed people and damaged property.

“The unbridled men in uniform were so rude that they didn’t even spare teenage girls and little children. They beat up all, damaged our houses, vehicles and electronic gadgets. We will never forgive Mehbooba led government for these atrocities,” locals said.

As many as 71 civilians have been killed and several thousand others injured by forces since July 9, a day after Wani was killed by forces in Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Islamabad district.

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