Tahir Bhat
Srinagar
Clashes erupted at several places across Kashmir valley on the eve of first anniversary of killing of a popular militant leader Burhan Wani.
Several hundred young and old men had assembled at the house of Burhan Wani in Tral town amidst huge clampdown arrangements put in place across Pulwama district. The house is surrounded by thousands of forces personnel deployed in the town.
Army allegedly thrashed four youth outside his home in Tral, local media reports said. The army men chopped their hair, reports said. They youth have been shifted to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.
Government forces for the second day sealed off Tral and had asked the locals to stay indoors.
There was general shutdown call given by joint resistance leadership on this occasion. A week long protest program has been issue by the leadership to observe Burhan anniversary July 13 as martyrs day.
Burhan Wani and his two associates were killed in a gun battle with state forces in Bamdoora village in Islamabad district last year. His killing was followed by popular uprising. Hundreds of thousands attended his funral in Tral town held a day after his killing.
Kashmir witnessed massive uprising against rule for over five months. State responded with viciousness killing nearly hundred civilians and maiming and blinding hundreds of youth by resorting to massive use of pellets which drew local as well as international condemnation.
People at several places tried to defy the curfew to reach Tral. Stone pelting and minor clashes were witnessed at several places.
In Reshi Mohalla Shopian, police fired pellets on protestors outside a mosque which injured 11 people including nine women.
Clashes and stone pelting were reported from Charsoo village of Awantipora when scores of youth came out on road to take a march towrads Tral town. They were thwarted back by police and paramilitaries by use of tear smoke shells and firing pellets.
Nealy six boys were nabbed by police during the clashes, local sources told Kashmir Life.
