Kashmir shuts against Israeli aggression, 5 injured in clashes Protests, clashes broke out several parts of the valley Srinagar, July 17: Amid shutdown, at least five people were injured in clashes on Thursday as Kashmir region observed a shutdown against on-going Israeli aggression against Palestine and to mourn the deaths of seven persons who were killed after an army truck rammed into a Tavera in the outskirts of Srinagar city yesterday. The call for shutdown was given by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir leader Shabir Ahmad Shah. Since early morning, most of the shops and commercial establishments were closed in Srinagar city while public transport was also off the roads. The schools and colleges are already closed due to summer vacation holidays. The banks and government offices recorded low attendance due to non-availability of the transport. However, private transport was plying normally. The authorities had deployed additional number of police and paramilitary personal to maintain law and order in the city at sensitive places. In Old City areas of Srinagar, the effect of shutdown was seen more as compared to Civil Lines and uptown areas, witnesses told GNS. At some sensitive places, the authorities had deployed armoured vehicles and additional reinforcements of police and paramilitary personal in riot gear who were armed with assault rifles and batons. However, in the afternoon, hundreds of people took out a rally from Central Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta and staged anti-Israel and anti-India protests, witnesses told GNS. They said the protesters were raising pro-Palestine, pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans. In Nowhatta chowk, the protesters torched an Israeli flag amid massive sloganeering. Eyewitnesses told GNS that soon after protests in Nowhatta, dozens of youth appeared at Saraf Kadal and resorted to stone-throwing on police and paramilitary forces deployed in the area. However, no one was reported injured during clashes. The clashes between government forces and youth also erupted at Habba Kada, Rajouri Kadal and Nawab Bazar areas of the Old City. In north Kashmir, at least four people were injured in Bandipora town when youths clashed with government forces. Reports said dozens of youth took out a rally in Papchan area of the town and staged anti-Israel protests. The protesters shouted anti-Israel and pro-Palestine slogans. Reports said the police and paramilitary personal, in order to quell the demonstrators, resorted to teargas shelling. Eyewitnesses told GNS that agitating protesters pelted stones on the government forces men. “The forces used pellets to quell the youth in which four youth sustained injuries,” reports said, adding they were immediately removed to hospital. In Baramulla district, clashes between youth and government forces erupted at twin bridges connecting Old Town with Civil Lines, witnesses said. Eyewitnesses told GNS that dozens of youth amid anti-Israel and anti-India clashes took to streets and clashed with police at Cement Bridge and Khanpora Bridge. The police, in order to disperse the agitating youth, chased them and also fired teargas shells. However, youth resisted police action and continued pelting stones on them. People in Watergam Rafiabad area of the Baramulla district staged an anti-Israel and pro-Palestine protest rally. The rally, witnesses said, ended peacefully. A youth in volatile Palhallan was hit by a teargas shell in his chest when protests broke out in the area against the arrest of another youth identified as Tausif Ahmad Malla from Raipura Mohall. Official sources said during clashes a youth identified as Iqbal Mohiuddin sustained injuries after being hit by a tear smoke shell and was rushed to Sumbal Hospital. “However, the youth was later referred to SKIMS Soura where he was treated upon,” they said, adding his condition is normal. Apart from Palhalan, authorities had deployed huge number of police and paramilitary personal in neighbouring Pattan to thwart protests. Amid complete shutdown in south Kashmir, agitating youth clashed with government forces in Rajpora area of Pulwama district. The stone-pelting continued for at least an hour, witnesses said. Hundreds of people in Anantnag town staged an anti-Israel demonstration. The protesters were raising pro-Palestine and anti-Israel slogans. The protesters condemned the Israeli aggression against innocent Palestine children, women and men and called on Muslim countries to take action against the Jewish state. The protests were followed by clashes with police chasing them. The clashes were reported from Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk and Kadipora. Eyewitnesses told GNS that huge number of police and paramilitary personal were deployed in the town. The lawyers in Kulgam also staged a pro-Palestine protest. (GNS)
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:51:15 +0000
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