Srinagar, Aug 16: Curfew remained clamped across several towns and districts of the Valley on Monday to check pro-freedom protests on the call of Hurriyat Conference. However, people defied curfew at a number of places here and in south Kashmir townships of Tral and Kokernag staging protests and demonstrating against the killings of unarmed protesters in police and CRPF firing.
At least 20 people were injured, three of them critically, when paramilitary forces and police used force to disperse a peaceful procession in Kokernag area even as strict curfew continued to remain in force in Islamabad town. Five persons sustained bullet injuries in CRPF firing in Tral area of Pulwama district and were referred to Srinagar in a critical condition.
The critically injured were identified as Hilal Ahmad Dar, 28, of Pinglina, Tral; Shabir Ahmad and Tariq Ahmad.
Shabir and Tariq were admitted in SKIMS. “They have head injuries and are being operated upon,” a SKIMS official said.
“The procession was entirely peaceful and there was no provocation from the protesters,” eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir.
 Later when the injured were being brought to sub-district hospital, police and CRPF men deployed there resorted to intense tear gas shelling and firing injuring at least ten more persons.
 “At least 15 persons with bullet injuries were admitted in the Sub District Hospital Tral. Out of which five critically injured were referred to Srinagar for the specialized treatment,” the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sanaullah Bhat told Greater Kashmir.
As the word about the firing incident spread, thousands of people came out on streets and protested against the CRPF action. They also clashed with police at many places and the clashes were going on till last reports came in.
In Kokernag area of the district, a huge peaceful procession was carried out. The protesters were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. However, when the procession reached near Jammu and Kashmir Bank it was intercepted by police and CRPF men.
Locals said the Tehsildar Kokernag, on magisterial duty, without any provocation ruthlessly beat up the protesters with a bamboo stick and then police and CRPF men also pounced on them and thrashed them. Police and CRPF also fired tear gas canisters and resorted to heavy aerial firing.
About 20 persons sustained injuries in police and CRPF action and the condition of five was stated to be critical. The critically injured persons were identified as Naveed Nazir Sofi, Sajad Ahmad Naikoo, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Abid Lone, Javaid Ahmad Yeetoo. Sajad Naikoo who had severe head injuries was referred to SKIMS while the rest were admitted in district hospital Islamabad.
In Islamabad town strict curfew was imposed. However in the evening when the deployment was reduced youth fought pitched battles with police and CRPF at many places in civil line area of K.P road and old town. In Moominabad, Achajipora and Khanabal people offered prayers on the roads. Processions were on in the entire town after the breaking of fast (Iftaar).
Reports of protest demonstrations were also received from Bijbehara, Sangam and its adjoining areas.
In other South Kashmir towns severe restrictions were imposed. Massive pro-freedom demonstrations also rocked Kulgam, Qaimoh, Frisal, Khudwani and Redwani areas of Kulgam district. People also staged sit-in protests and held prayers on the roads.
In Shopian town a huge procession was carried out from Jamia Masjid which marched through the streets of the town. Later, a sit-in protest was also organized. People offered Zuhar and Asar prayers on the roads.
In Pulwama, Kakpora, Awantipora, Tral and Pampore people organized sit-in protests and also offered prayers on the roads.

SRINAGAR:
In the summer capital protests broke out at a number of places which were dealt with force by police leaving at least a dozen persons, including two women injured.
At Tengpora Byepass, paramilitary CRPF and troopers of Rapid Action Force lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber and live bullets to disperse a group of people protesting civilian killings. The protesters hurled stones on the forces triggering clashes.
Witnesses said two persons were injured, one of them gravely, in the police action. Doctors at SMHS hospital identified the critically injured as Waseem Ahmed Khan, 25. He was ruthlessly beaten by the forces.
Locals said the forces also detained two youth after the incident. They said police beat up civilians and damaged the vehicles by smashing their window panes.
Residents of many localities at Batmaloo, JVC, Bemina, Shaheed Gunj, and Alochi Bagh also came out on streets and staged protests. Policemen caned the protesters and fired bullets in air to disperse them. Several persons including a woman were injured at Alochi Bagh and JVC.
Locals said that police and CRPF men barged into lanes and by lanes of the locality, beating civilians and pelting stones on window panes.
Protests were also held at Nishat, Shalimar, and Daraa. At Shalimar a woman was grievously injured after she was hit by a teargas shell in her head. Witnesses said police and CRPF men chased away protesters, protesting arrest of some people, and lobbed teargas shells to disperse them.
A 40-year-old lady, Syeeda, was injured after a shell hit her head. She was rushed to SKIMS for treatment in an unconscious state.
In Hyderpora, Nowshera, Baghi Mehtab, Sarai Bala localities people offered prayers on roads following which they staged protests yelling anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
Protests were also held at Waniyar, Safakadal, Qamarwari and Iddgah localities of downtown.
Near Rainawari hospital, witnesses said CRPF men stopped a car in which a mother-son duo was travelling. “They beat up the man and damaged his car,” they said.
The injured has been identified as Makhmoor Hussian.
Locals of Chanapora and Habak said police and CRPF beat up civilians without any provocation.

NORTH KASHMIR:
In Varmul town, police fired on peaceful protesters at Cement Bridge late in the evening, injuring 2 persons. One of the critically injured, Shabir Ahmad Sheikh of Banglow Bagh Varmul, was referred to SKIMS Srinagar.
For the second consecutive day, thousands of people marched towards Ajas Bandipora- the native village of Ahad Jan, a police officer who hurled a shoe towards Chief Minster Omer Abdullah on August 15 function at Baskhi Stadium in Srinagar on Sunday.
People from towns as far as Pattan, Sopur, Ganderbal, Safapora, Sumbal, Naidkhai and other adjoining townships arrived in Aajs in buses, tractors and trucks.
The visitors shouted slogans in favor of Ahad Jan and demanded his immediate release. “Ahad Jan is innocent. When those responsible for the killing of over 60 people are not punished, then why Jan, we all must support him and are demanding his release,” they said.
“Government should immediately release Jan who used a democratic way to protest against atrocities and tyranny,” said Moulana Javid while addressing thousands of people in Ajas.
“It is shame for government that killers of 60 people are roaming free and an innocent who protested against killings has been put into a cell,” Javid said.
Meanwhile the family of Ahad Jan have demanded that they should be allowed o meet him as they are concerned about his health. “We were not allowed to meet him, we tried hard but police guarding him denied us to meet him, we should be allowed so that we can know about his health,” said Showket Ahmed, elder son of Jan.
Protests broke out in several parts of the Bandipora town on Monday. Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in the other adjoining townships of Sumbal, Naidkahi, Kaloosa and Papchan.
Police and CRPF deployed in large numbers blocked roads and streets at several points by barricades and concertina wires, especially the roads leading to various local Masjids. No prayers were offered at various Masjids of the town including Jamia Masjid Hashmeer, Gousia, Peer, Naag, Abubakr, Iqbal and Noor Masjid, which infuriates people who after mid day defied curfew in ward 2,3,6 and 7 and staged pro-freedom protests.
A police officer on duty told Greater Kashmir that only youths have been denied to offer prayers as they are using loudspeakers to assemble people for protests.
Protesters tried to march towards Main Chowk Bandipora. However, police and CRPF men swung into action and baton charged them. They lobbed tear-smoke canisters at the protesters injuring three of them. The ding-dong clashes continued for several hours.
Youth from nearby Nebrpora Nishat mohalla also took out a protest rally, which was intercepted by police. The protesters later hurled stones at the policemen.
Police arrested four persons including one, which locals say, has some mental disability here after protest demonstrations.
Arrested youth include Amir son of Ghulam Hassan, Abid son of Hassan Bhat, Abid Ahmed son of Gulam Rasool and Manzoor Ahmed son of Abdul Aziz.
One Sunday police fired upon protesters in main town Bandipora injuring 27, out of whom the condition of three persons is stated to be critical.
In the wake of alleged atrocities committed on the residents of Bomai and adjoining areas, the locals are demanding removal of the camp of 192 batallion of CRPF.
The residents on Monday submitted the demand before IG police, Pankaj Saxena, and special commissioner Muhammad Syed Khan.
According to the residents, the personnel belonging to 192 battalion have unleashed reign of terror in the area with CRPF men allegedly indulging in looting and beating of residents.
“Not only were our youth tortured but our women were beaten and harassed by CRPF men during the raids. They ransacked our belongings and smashed the window panes of our houses,” said the residents who deposed before the visiting officials on Monday.
In old town Varmul protests broke out at Cement Bridge after dawn prayers following which police and CRPF used force to disperse them. Police also lobbed a number of teargas shells.
Later during the day, the forces restricted the people of the old town to the area as they blocked all the bridges linking it with civil line areas.
However, in the civil line areas of the town, a thin movement of private vehicles was witnessed during the day.
At Singpora Pattan, witnesses said an ambulance carrying staff came under heavy stone pelting when protests were going on the area.
More than a dozen persons were injured in Maripora, Duripora and Manigam areas of Ganderbal when troopers of paramilitary CRPF and police resorted to tear gas shelling and lathicharge on protesters here on Monday.
Witness said massive pro-freedom protest demonstrations erupted here early in the morning and when the protesters tried to march towards the Srinagar-Leh highway in the afternoon police and CRPF intercepted them and burst dozens of tear gas shells and thrashed protesters by lathicarge in which dozens of protestors were injured.
The local residents alleged that troopers of CRPF have spread a reign of terror in the area and indulge in unprovoked beating of the locals.
The injured persons were admitted in SDH Ganderbal for treatment.
Authorities made announcement of curfew in Kangan town after protests broke out this afternoon. Police fired tear shells in air when the protesters were trying to regrouping at Chuk Kangan.
(With inputs from Tariq Rasool)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST