Ramban incident: Kashmir, Chenab Valley shuts in mourning amid curfew
9 injured in clashes; 4 killed laid to rest amid tears; Internet services restored; KU postpones exams
GOWHAR MANZOOR
Srinagar, July 19: (GNS) In wake of the Ramban killings and desecration of Holy Qur’an allegedly by Border Security Force (BSF), authorities on Friday imposed strict curfew across the Kashmir Valley and most parts of the Jammu region including entire Ramban district.
Normal life came to standstill due to curfew as well as the shutdown called by all the pro-freedom groups including both factions of Hurriyat and JKLF.
Sources told Global News Service that curfew has been imposed in all areas of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Bandipora districts and Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag and Bijbehara.
Restrictions under section 144 CrPC, which does not permit assembly of four or more persons, has been imposed in rest of the valley, they said.
Police and paramilitary CRPF have been deployed in large numbers across the major towns of the valley while all roads leading to Lal Chowk, Srinagar have been sealed off. The law enforcing agencies have erected barricades at many places within the Srinagar city and other vulnerable parts of the valley.
The decision to impose curfew was taken at a meeting of senior police and civil administration officials here last night after reviewing the law and order situation, official sources said.
Despite restrictions, there were clashes reported from many parts of the Valley and five persons were injured in police action at Khurhama, Wanipora, Saloora and main town in Ganderbal.
Official sources told Global News Service that police resorted to teargas shelling and opened fire to disperse a group of protesters at Khurhama in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district soon after the Friday prayers.
Among the five persons, they said that two of them received serious wounds and were shifted to SKIMS.
A police spokesman here said that the condition of both the injured was stable.
Elsewhere, the clashes were reported from Old Town Baramulla, Pattan, Palhallan, Sopore, Handwara, Kupwara, Bandipora, Papchan, Naid Khai, Sumbal in North Kashmir.
Agitated youth at Khanpora Bridge and Cement Bridge pelted stones on forces that retaliated with teargas shelling. Minor stone pelting incidents were also witnessed in Langate. However, later on, agitated youth dispersed peacefully.
Four persons were reportedly injured in police action at Naid Khai area of Sumba in Bandipora. All the injured were later hospitalized.
In Srinagar, authorities did not allow Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid, locals of the area said.
Minor clashes were also reported from many areas of Srinagar city including SD Colony Batamaloo, Magarmal Bagh, Tangpora, Bemina and Kawdara.
Similar reports of clashes were also reported from Redwani, Khunmoh, Qazigund, Dooru, Levdora, Gagren, Shopian, Rajpora, and Pulwama in South Kashmir.
Barring these clashes, the officials said the situation across the Valley is largely peaceful and under control. “Curfew is likely to continue on Saturday”, they added.
Entire pro-freedom leadership has been put under house arrest and JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik has been lodged in Kothibagh police station.
A police spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said that the situation so far is under control throughout Kashmir Valley, though some stone pelting incidents have been reported.
“Miscreants pelted stones in Kurhama, Ganderbal. Two miscreants were injured. They have been referred to the hospital and their condition is stable,” he said.
In Jammu region, reports of clashes and protests also broke out in Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Thathri, Gool, Sangaldan and other areas to register protest against the killings.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway is closed following strict curfew in Kashmir as well as in Ramban district as a preventive measure.
All the stranded passengers and pilgrims in their vehicles have been cleared from the highway last evening by the police.
Meanwhile, authorities restored internet services in the valley late on Friday, six hours after it was suspended. Following the Ramban firing, authorities had suspended internet services on mobile phones and dongle appliances in the valley, while internet speed on broadband facilities were reduced to prevent the spread of rumors.
Earlier on Friday morning all the four persons who were killed yesterday in BSF firing were buried in their respective graveyards at Gool area of Ramban amid protests.
Special prayers were offered by families of Manzoor Ahmed Shah, Abdul Latief, Javed Ahmed and Farooq Ahmed as their bodies were buried at graveyards in Gool, Dharam and Jasmalan.
Thousands of people participated in the burial and offered their prayers at their graveyards.
The Kashmir University and Board of School Education have postponed all examinations scheduled for Friday.
Keeping in view the strict restrictions in the valley, district magistrate Srinagar has ordered that identity cards of media and essential services people shall be treated as curfew passes.
“If case of any problem contact your respective police station or call on our 24×7 helpline number 9469179988”, Deputy commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Shah said. (GNS)
