Srinagar
Ahead of popular militant commander Burhan Wani’s anniversary, Tral town of Southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district has been completely sealed with Army conducting flag march in restive parts of the town, warning people not to venture out from their houses on July 8 (Saturday).
Eyewitnesses and reports said that the town reeled under strict curfew on Friday while hundreds of government forces personnel including army men from Rashtriya Rifles had been deployed on the village roads. Locals alleged that pedestrians at many places were thrashed by government forces personnel for venturing out from their houses.
“One can see only men in uniform on the roads, fields, orchards and streets of Tral town. It looks as civilian population doesn’t exist at all here,” CNS reporter from Tral said adding that Dadsara, Pinglish, Lurgam, Batagund and Rathsuna villages of the town have been turned into military garrisons.
Reports said that Sharifabad, the native village of Hizbul Mujhadeen commander Burhan Wani has been sealed while the martyrs grave yard and Eidgah where Wani’s funeral prayers had been held has also been sealed.
“The government forces have been patrolling in every nook and cranny of the town. The unprecedented security measures taken by the PDP-BJP led government has created a sense of insecurity among people,” said a local.
Like in Jamia Masji Srinagar, no Friday prayers were allowed in Khanqah Faiz Panah in Tral.
File PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
Meanwhile, stone-pelting incidents took place in different parts of Kashmir Valley. Clashes broke out between protesters and the government forces in Anantnag, Bandipora, Pulwama and some parts of Srinagar city. Reports said that clashes broke out in Tahab Pulwama, Noor Bagh, Kawdara and Batamaloo Srinagar, Garoora Bandipora, and Anantnag.
Reports from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district said that at Chewalgam, Army personnel from 9 Rashtriya Rifles have drawn a warning line on the road with the directions that those who will cross that line on July 8 will be shot dead. CNS reporter from Kulgam said that an army jawan on duty confirmed to him that the line drawn with wax is a message to people not to cross it on Saturday otherwise they will face bullets.
A police official said that barring few stray incidents of stone pelting, situation across Kashmir Valley remained peaceful. (CNS)
