SOUTH KASHMIR: Amid complete shutdownseveral people were injured in the clashes that broke out between forces and protesters in various areas of South Kashmir. Five civilians including two minors were injured after forces fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Kulgam town. Reports said that shops and other business establishments remained closed while traffic was completely off the roads in entire South Kashmir. Police and paramilitary forces wearing riot gears were deployed in all major towns to thwart any attempts of protests. However, clashes broke out in several areas. In Redwani and Khudwani areas of Qaimoh in Kulgam protests and clashes continued for the third consecutive day. Reports said that people came outon streets and held pro-freedom demonstrations. “Police and CRPF men resorted to baton charge and lobbed tear smoke canisters to quell the protesters who retaliated by pelting stones and bricks,” eyewitnesses said. They said clashes continued throughout the day with many including cops sustaining injuries. “Protesters also attacked CRPF camp with stones,” witnesses said. On Saturday the forces had fired on the protesters at Khudwani injuring five including three women. One civilianwas injured earlier in firing on Friday. All the injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, and their condition according to thedoctors is stable. In Kulgam town five civilians were injured after forces fired on the protesters on Saturday late evening. "As soon as the deployment was withdrawn people came out on the streets and held pro-freedom demonstrations, Police rushed to the spot and used force to disperse the protesters by firing rubberbullets injuring four civilians including two minors. They were identified as Raju (age 10 years) s/o Abdul Gaffar Ahanger resident of Rangrezpora Kulgam, BilalAhmad Shah (age 15 years) son of Muhammad Anwar Shah of Kulgam. Both the minors are undergoing treatment in Bone and Joints hospital, Srinagar. The other two injured Javed Ahmad and Aadil Wani were treated at District hospital, Kulgam. The locals alleged that police and CRPF men wentberserk barged into several houses and smashed the window panes of the houses. “They also damaged several vehicles,” they alleged. Clashes between forces and youth continued on Sunday too. Youth pelted stones on the forces at various places who retaliated by lobbing tear gas canisters. In Pulwama town clashesbroke out between the protesters and forces at several places including Murran Chowk and Main Chowk. Reports said that youth pelted stones on the forces who retaliated by lobbing tear gas canisters. Shutdown was also observed in Awantipora, Kakapora, Pampore and Rajpora areas of the district with reports of sporadic clashesfrom these areas. Several people were injured in the clashes that broke out in Tral area of Pulwama district. Reports said that people were protesting against the arrest of youth in the town. “The protesters resorted to heavy stone pelting which was retaliated by the forces bybaton charge and tear gasshelling,” witnesses said. Several cops also sustained injuries in the clashes. Around 8 youth have been reportedly rounded up by the police. Shopian town and its adjacent areas also witnessed clashes between forces and protesters throughout theday. “ Youth resorted to stone pelting at Bonabazaar, Gole Chowk, DC office and adjoining village of Gagran which police retaliated by tear gas by lobbing tear gas shells. “A policeman was also roughed up by the protesters,” reports said. Reports said that two teenagers were detained by the police. In Islamabad town amid complete shutdown sporadic clashes erupted in several areas of old town including Kadipora and Laizbal. “Severe restrictions were put in place in many areas of thetown,” reports said. Massive protests rocked Islamabad late Sunday evening after a youth wasbeaten by the forces. Reports said hundreds of people attacked police station Sherbagh and clashes were going at scores of places when thisreport was being filed. Reports added that the youth Danish Ahmad was snatched by the protestors from the forces. The people were calling from the public address systems asking the residents to come for protests. Shutdown was observed in Bijbehara and Mattan towns too while clashes were witnesses in Seer area of the district. “Six boys mostly teenagers were detained by the police,” reports said. Highway town of Qazigund which had witnessed violent protestsin last three days remained relatively peaceful.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 22:24:10 +0000