By Sheikh Imran Bashir, Agence India Press
Srinagar: Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled mostly empty streets and enforced a strict curfew on Wednesday in most parts of Kashmir.
Security forces laid razor wire and steel barricades in Srinagar to foil the march of Pampore, which was scheduled today.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani called for a march to Pampore to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of pro-freedom leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was killed by police in 2008.
Sheikh belonged to Pampore town where he was buried in 2008.
Police and paramilitary soldiers fired bullets and tear gas after hundreds of stone pelters demonstrators defied the curfew and staged a protest there. At least four people were injured, two critically.
In other side, thousands of people gathered in Kreeri village after the body of Syed Farrukh Bukhari, 19, was found in a stream late Tuesday. Thousands of mourners joined the funeral procession of the slain boy. Relatives and locals allege he had been arrested by security forces from his native Kreeri village after protests July 28.
Bukhari had been missing for two weeks and police said his death was being investigated.
After the burial of the teenager, an angry mob attacked the local police station in Kreeri village.
Clashes erupted in some neighbourhoods after forces fired warning shots and tear gas to stop villagers from marching to Kreeri, the police officer said. Scores of people have offered the funeral prayers of 19-year-old Syed Farrukh Bukhari in Kreeri area.
Three persons were injured when police and paramilitary forces lobbed tear gas shells and fired in air to disperse a procession coming from Palhalan area to attend the boy’s funeral.
On Wednesday morning, thousands of people came out of their homes in this area and assembled near the boy’s home to offer his funeral prayers. Raising pro-freedom and anti-Indian slogans, the mourners later laid the boy’s body to rest.
Meanwhile, the boy’s post-mortem was conducted at Sub District Hospital (SDH) Kreeri this morning and a report about the cause of his death is expected later. Some doctors who oversaw the process said that the Farrukh’s body bore visible torture marks.
With the death of 19-year-old Bukhari, the number of lives lost during the unrest that started here June 11 has now reached 52.
In Konibal village of south Kashmir protesters tried to defy curfew restrictions and march towards Pampore town in response to a Hurriyat’s call.
“Three people sustained injuries in the security force action which followed after a violent mob attempted to break curfew and March towards Pampore town in the afternoon,” said a police officer in south Kashmir Pulwama district.
In Ompora district of Budgam, troops open many teargas canisters to control the demonstrations that broke out this morning. Youths remained locked in pitched battles with the troops and police for some hours. Reports reaches to Agence India Press says that two people were injured in the clashes.
Curfew and restrictions remained in place throughout the day in Srinagar, south Kashmir Pampore, Pulwama, Tral and Kakpora towns while restrictions were imposed in north Kashmir Sopore and Baramulla towns.
However, Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani has asked people to resume normal life Thursday afternoon.