KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
On first day of anti-establishment in Kashmir witnessed massive pro-freedom processions with over 250 more injured and an elderly losing his life.
Clashes, protests and shutdown continued on Wednesday with civilian death toll rising to 77 while more than 11000 injured.
The Valley has been witnessing unprecedented pro-freedom protests since July 8, the day popular Hizb commander Burhan Wani was killed by forces.
Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and uptown some movement of government and private vehicles on the roads during wee hours, however, the movement became skeletal as the day passed by.
Protest march was carried out in Padshahi-Bagh area against the nocturnal raids and subsequent arrests of five youth from the area.
The area also witnessed nocturnal pro-freedom protests while a large number of people mostly women to roads and organized a massive pro-freedom protest.
They alleged that during nocturnal raid people including women were beaten up by armed forces while houses were ransacked.
“The forces, who were in plain clothes, unleashed a reign of terror in the area,” the protesters said and identified the arrested youths as Shabir Ahmed Khan, Imtiyaz Ahmed Khan, Ashiq Bashir Dar, Naseer Ahmed Wani and Reyaz Ahmed.
Reports coming from Burzhama Srinagar said that a massive pro-freedom rally was held in the area. People from Batpora, Burzhama, Danihama, Theed, Harwan, Khimber, Chatterhama and other villages attended the rally.
Massive stone-pelting incidents were reported from Batamaloo area of Srinagar city where people accused forces of atrocities.
Three persons, including a woman, sustained minor injuries during clashes with forces in Fatehpora area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Eyewitnesses and reports said that forces attacked a peaceful protest rally, triggering clashes. Three persons, including a woman, sustained injuries in clashes, they said, adding that the injured were taken to District hospital Ganderbal for medical aid.
At least eight persons were injured in clashes in Dardsun and Lalpora villages of Kupwara in north Kashmir on Wednesday.
Health sources said that three among the injured four were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. The rest of the injured were being treated at District Hospital Kupwara, they said.
He said that the other four injured youth were discharged after they were treated.
Meanwhile, all the shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remained closed throughout the day while the reports of minor clashes were reported from other areas as well.
Reports from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district said that scores of protesters were injured in clashes with forces in Murran area on Wednesday morning.
Witnesses and reports said that over 30 injured persons were being treated at Rahmoo hospital. Two were referred to Srinagar for advanced treatment, health sources said.
Witnesses said that clashes broke out after forces fired pellets and teargas shells to foil “Murran Chalo” called by the locals. Later in the evening, more injured civilians were shifted to Srinagar for advanced treatment.
Police also attempted to foil pro-freedom rally in South Kashmir’s Kulgam.
Reports said that in a bid to foil ‘Marhama Chalo’ forces sealed the roads and raided the venue (JNV School Ground) where they vandalized the stage and the sound system.
Locals alleged that CRPF personnel after resorting to shelling, set two school buildings of Jawahar Navodaya Vidalaya (JNV) on fire.
“They lobbed tear-smoke shells and suddenly the school building went into flames,” the locals said adding that some of the school vehicles too were gutted in the fire.
People from different hamlets of Kulgam including Chehlan, Achthal, Ponipora clashed with forces near Chawalgam Rest House.
Witnesses said that forces fired pellets and tear-smoke shells to disperse the rock-throwing people.
The clashes, according to witnesses, left over a dozen people wounded. Many people were injured when clashes broke out at Kulgam Hospital road.
A local alleged that the forces hit his three-wheeler with a tear-smoke shell, causing damage to it. “Forces used PAVA shells outside Kulgam hospital that caused enormous problems to patients inside the hospital,” the locals said.
Reports said that a septuagenarian whom locals identified as Abdul Gani Wani, son of Muhammad Sultan, resident of Chawalgam died due to cardiac arrest after a tear-smoke shel burst near his home in the area.
Locals claimed that the elderly person was killed due to sound of intense shelling, a charge refuted by police.
Agitated protesters set ablaze old Rest House building at Chawalgam.
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam expressed grief and shock over the death of Wani. He said that the sad situation prevailing in the valley has taken away many precious lives. “This spree of killings and destruction must be stopped and the law enforcing agencies made accountable,” he said.
At Chehlan Kulgam, locals alleged that forces caused massive damage to property. Reports said that more than 75 persons were wounded during the day long clashes in the district.
At least four persons were injured in clashes that erupted between protestors and forces in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district.
Witnesses said that residents of Bewoora, in Islamabad district had arranged a freedom rally in their locality, however, forces vandalized the venue resulting in clashes which spread to an adjacent village, Hugam.
At least four persons sustained injuries when forces fired pellets and tear smoke shells to chase away protestors, they said.
The forces barged into the house of a policeman and ransacked it completely at Hugam.
The mother of the policeman said that the armed men including CRPF and SOG personnel broke our doors and windows, damaged electric appliances and other items.
She said that they set fire the dry grass that was present in the two rooms of the store. “They created havoc in the area and damaged all the parked vehicles,” she said adding her frightened daughter who recently delivered a baby was hit by a stone, thrown by these men in uniform.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people on Wednesday participated in a pro-freedom rally in Kumdalan village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Witnesses added that people organized the rally in a government school ground.
The speakers, according to reports, appealed to the participants to exhibit steadfastness during the on-going uprising and asked them to care for the needy.
Report coming from Qaziabad Budgam said that several persons were injured in clashes between forces and protestors. Many of the injured civilians were shifted to Srinagar.
Meanwhile, reports said that a Kashmiri man was detained at the Attari border for allegedly carrying a badge of militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, reports quoting security officials said Wednesday.
25-year-old Hilal Ahmed was being questioned by intelligence agencies after officials of the customs department allegedly found the badge from his luggage during checking at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari. Hilal, who had gone to Pakistan about 10 days ago through the Attari border, returned yesterday.
Reports further said that two of activists of Dukhtaran-e-Millat were arrested from a house in Qazigund where they were staying as guests. “Tehmeena and Kulsooma were arrested when police raided the house in Qazigund early yesterday morning,” said a spokesperson of the outfit.
The girls, she said, were booked under section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and 188, 148, 149, 336, 332 sections of the RPC at a police station in Islamabad today.
