By Sheikh Imran Bashir,Agence India Press,
Srinagar: A curfew was strictly imposed since morning in Baramulla district, 65 km north of Srinagar, and Sopore, 55 km north of Srinagar, as the authorities feared protests in these areas. Despite curfew, there were reports of massive protests in the town against the death of two youth from the area one, Faizan Ahmad, died after he drowned into a river in a police chase two days ago and 23-year-old Fayaz Ahmad Khanday fell to bullets fired on the funeral of Faizan.
Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to baton charges to disperse protesters in Baramulla, where a 25-year-old youth was killed and several others were wounded when security forces opened fire last evening.
Fayaz, who was married only 28 days ago, was declared brought dead by the doctors in the district hospital while another critically wounded was referred to Srinagar hospital.
Trouble started in the downtown when people again took to the streets today, raising separatist and anti Indian slogans.
At least 22 people, including half-a-dozen policemen were wounded in clashes as people defied curfew for the second consecutive day Tuesday against the killing of two youth, allegedly by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops and police in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Additional security force personnel had been deployed in the town. All bridges on river Jehlum, connecting down town with civil lines had been closed with barbed wire.
Defiant protesters tried to lift the barricades. Fearing trouble, CRPF and police lobbed numerous tear smoke shells to quell the demonstrators.
In retaliation, the protesters pelted stones turning the three vital bridges into battleground.
Police fired several shots in air to scare away the stone pelting youth. Pitched battles between the protesters and police that continued till late evening left at least fifteen people, including four policemen injured.
A procession was also taken out by residents of Khanpora this morning. Shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters tried to move to the Old Town to express solidarity with the families of the two slain youth.
When the procession reached near police station, heavy posse of CRPF and police intercepted them. Forces fired several tear smoke shells after cane charged proved ineffective to disperse the demonstrators sparking off fierce clashes in the area.
Scores of men, women and children also took out a procession from Binner area of Rafiabad. When the procession reached near Janbazpora, CRPF and police burst tear smoke shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesters. Seven people, including two policemen were injured in the ensuing clashes.
At Deewan Bagh, angry protesters attacked the vehicle of a senior police officer forcing him to retreat.
Hundreds of people also staged peaceful demonstrations against the killing of two innocents in the neighboring Handwara of the frontier Kupwara district.
Curfew has been imposed in Sopore as authorities had apprehension of trouble after the death of a youth in Baramulla.
A senior police officer told Agence India Press that, the decision to impose curfew and restrictions was taken to maintain law and order after the situation turned tense following the killing of 25-year-old Fayaz Ahmad Khanday in alleged firing by security forces in Baramulla town, last evening.
Srinagar too was put under severe security restrictions, almost like curfew, where civilian and vehicular movement was not allowed throughout the day. There was no official declaration of curfew in Srinagar. Security in many towns in south Kashmir was also beefed up. People were not allowed to move freely or assemble in towns.
In the city, prohibitory orders have been imposed in areas falling under 13 police stations of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Maharajgunj, Rainawari, Safakadal, Soura, Lalbazar, Nigeen and Noorbagh in old city and Batmaloo, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Shaheedgunj in uptown, police said.
Restrictions on movement of people have also been imposed in Ganderbal and Budgam districts.
Markets, educational institutions, banks, and other business establishments remain closed and transport was off the roads in Kashmir in response week-long shutdown called by All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani shutdown call and security restrictions imposed by the authorities.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir government has transferred top police officials of Anantnag in including the DIG.
Deputy inspector general of Police (South Range) AS Bali was shifted as director, Police Telecom, and Shafqat Wattali was posted in his place to look after Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts.
Senior superintendent of police (Anantnag district) Showkat Malik was transferred to Railways with Bashir Ahmad Khan taking over from him.
Though Malik had completed his tenure in the district, the change was also seen as a part of the inquiry in which eight policemen were attached to police headquarters for allegedly involved in a firing incident in Anantnag that led to the death of three persons.
SSP Baramulla Sheikh Mehmood, who was transferred to the troubled North Kashmir district less than a month ago, was replaced by Mansoor Ahmad Antoo as the former is in hospital following a cardiac problem.
Mohammad Sayeed Punoo, AIG, (welfare), police headquarters, has been transferred and posted as SP Awantipora.
The transfers in Anantnag come in the backdrop of chief minister Omar Abdullah assuring prominent citizens to carry out a detailed enquiry of the allegation of alleged high-handedness by policemen in the district.
Earlier, an inspector, two sub-inspectors and five constables were attached with the Jammu and Kashmir Police headquarters following a preliminary report that they used “excessive force”, official sources said here.
Anantnag additional diistrict magistrate GM Dar is conducting a formal inquiry into the incident.
The chief minister had said on July 6 in Anantnag that he had received the preliminary inquiry report about the Anantnag incident “in which precious human lives have been lost and action will be taken accordingly”.
Three persons were killed and two others injured as security personnel allegedly opened fire at a group of stone-pelting protesters in Anantnag, 55 kms from here, on June 29.