By Sheikh Imran Bashir, Agence India Press
Srinagar: Government Tuesday clamped curfew in Srinagar city and restrictions elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley after angry protestors went on a rampage attacking two police stations to protest killing of four persons in firing by police and CRPF.
Curfew has been imposed across Kashmir following the death of four people at Palhallan, in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Stone pelting, aerial firing and protests continued throughout the night at many places in Kashmir valley.
Following the fresh wave of tension in the wake of four killings in Pattan on the Shab-e-Qadr, the toll has mounted to 69 since June 11.
Reports reaches to Agence India Press said that, hundreds of mourners spent the night on the highway at Palhalan, Pattan, Singhpora and other areas shouting pro-freedom and ant-India slogans.
Heavy stone pelting was reported in almost pockets of Srinagar and in various places of South Kashmir’s Anantnag, Pulwama and north Kashmir’s Baramulla and Kupwara districts. Police resorted to aerial firing to quell the stone-throwers during the night.
Motorcycle-borne youth were seen travelling around the city raising pro-freedom slogans.
Police have initiated an enquiry into the Pattan incident.”Senior police officers have taken a serious view of the firing incident and an enquiry has been initiated. Ammunition of the policemen is being checked to fix responsibility,” a police spokesman said, adding those found involved shall face action as per the law.
A top police officer told Agence India Press that, police have imposed severe restrictions under section 144 CrPC on the movement of the people in other nine districts of the Valley.
All curfew passes issued by the district administration were cancelled last evening. However, fresh passes were issued to employees working in essential services departments and to media persons.
Meanwhile, wanted separatist and general secretary of Hurriyat Conference (G), Masrat Alam, appeared outside Nowhata Police Station in old city last night and joined protesters.
According to sources Masrat remained with youth for quite some time and raised pro-freedom slogans with them.
Pertinently, Marsat has played a pivotal role in the ongoing “Quit Kashmir Movement.” Police have been on look out for him for the past 3-months and special squads have been formed to arrest him.
The sources said youths came to the streets of Nowhatta soon after the ‘Taraveeh’ special prayers during Ramadan and started pelting stones at the Nowhatta police station.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters but in hopeless. They, then resorted to firing in the air to chase away the mob, the sources said, no one was hurt in the incident.
Similar protests were also held in Rajouri Kadal, Karan Nagar and some other areas in the old city and Rawalpora and Maisuma areas in the civil lines area.
One person was injured in police action against protesters at Karan Nagar after the police station there was set on fire, the sources said.
The Kashmir valley is tense again after four youths were killed and about seventeen injured in clashes with security forces on Monday.
Kashmir valley has witnessed widespread anti-India demonstrations since 11 June. The toll of deaths in the ongoing unrest has now gone up to 69.