By Sheikh Imran Bashir, Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Authorities on Friday imposed curfew in this north Kashmir town to prevent people from coming out and staging demonstrations.
Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed in strength in every nook and corner of the town and people were not allowed to come out of their homes.
Reports said that authorities also imposed curfew in frontier district of Kupwara and prevented people from marching towards Khanqah-E-Moula, the call for which was given by the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
A major clash took place in the northern town of Kupwara, where scores of residents took to the streets in defiance of a strict curfew, prompting volleys of teargas shells and baton charges from police.
There were also sporadic clashes in Srinagar, and in Palhalan and Baramulla.
A top police officer told Agence India Press that, to maintain law and order and to prevent damage to civilian life and property, restrictions have been imposed in Old City areas in Srinagar, and prohibitory orders under Section 144 remained enforced across the summer capital here.
“There is no curfew but strict restrictions are in force in some sensitive parts of Srinagar,” he said.
Protests rocked city after Friday prayers, as dozens of youths took to the streets raising anti-Indian slogans.
The protestors also burnt effigies of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Police and the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) resorted to use of tear gas to disperse the agitating youths, leaving 15 persons, including seven security forces, injured even as authorities clamped curfew in three towns in the Valley.
Five policemen including a CRPF cops were injured when stone-pelting protesters attacked a security vehicle outside Nishat police station here after Friday prayers, police said.
Another group of protesters tried to take out a march towards Hyderpora Chowk but were dispersed by police, who fired teargas shells and used batons.
Four persons including a policeman were injured in the violence.
A passing private vehicle was also damaged by the mob and its driver received minor injuries.
Fayaz Ahmad, Deputy Superintendent of Police and a woman were injured when they were hit by stones during a clash at Kakapora in Pulwama.
Defying curfew, groups of youth clashed with police and CRPF in Kupwara district town. Police burst teargas shells and batons to disperse the protestors.
Similar clashes were reported from Pattan and cement Bridge in Baramulla, Bandipora, Dooru in Anantnag and Shopian districts but there was no report of any casuality, police said.
The Kashmir Valley has been in turmoil since a 17-year-old student was killed on June 11 by a police tear-gas shell.
Since then, security forces have been accused of killing 16 more civilians – mostly teenagers – as they struggled to contain growing anti-India protests.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a reply from the Centre on a complaint alleging that several civilians were recently killed by the CRPF in Jammu and Kashmir.
Issuing a notice to Union Home Secretary, the Commission asked him to send a reply on the allegations by August 19, the NHRC said in a statement.
“The National Human Rights Commission has forwarded a complaint to the Home Secretary, Government of India wherein attention has been drawn to recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir in which several individuals, including children, were allegedly killed by the CRPF,” it said.
The Commission received the complaint from Sushobha Barve of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation on Wednesday, the NHRC said. The notice was issued yesterday.