GOWHAR BHAT
Srinagar, July 15: Massive peaceful protests and roadside sit-ins were staged across the Kashmir valley on Thursday amid a complete shutdown. Police used force against protesters at several places including at Pampore injuring several persons.
In Srinagar, since early morning motley groups of youth poured out on roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. They blocked roads by boulders, erecting barricades and burning tyres.
At several places including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal and Eidgah road youth pelted stones on vehicles enforcing a bandh. Protesters also barred the movement of ambulances on many routes. Scores of private vehicles and auto rickshaws were damaged in the attacks.
People also came out on roads in many uptown localities including Batmaloo, Bemina, Rambagh, Natipora, Chanapora, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Parimpora, and staged demonstrations as part of the ‘civil disobedience’ programme. By the afternoon, in almost all localities people including men and women, young and old, staged sit-ins on the roadsides mainly outside Masjids. Youth raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans over Masjid loud speakers and also recited Naats—a reminiscent of early ’90s when militancy broke out in the Valley.
Sit-ins were held at Khanyar, Bohri Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Safa Kadal, Zaina Kadal, Nawa Kadal, Noor Bagh, Nawab Bazar, Aali Kadal, Nowhatta, Hawal, Nowshera, Lal Bazaar, Hazratbal, Soura, Maharaja Bazar, Sarai Bala and other localities which continued till late evening.
Interestingly, for the first time in recent weeks, no police or CRPF was deployed anywhere in the old city.
Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for two-day protests on Wednesday and Thursday asking people to stage protests against the recent civilian killings.
Police said prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC, barring the assembly of four of more people, remained clamped in the city and elsewhere in the Valley as a precautionary measure.
Educational institutions, offices, banks, courts, continued to be remained closed during the day. Both the private and public transport remained off the roads. All the fuel stations remained closed in the city.

CRPF GOES BERSERK, ATTACKS VEHICLES
CRPF troopers at Iddgah attacked a vehicle, JKO5-7604, of SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, carrying paramedical staff. The driver of the vehicle was injured in the attack.
“We were returning from SKIMS via Ali Jan Road. As soon as we reached near Iddgah, where minor protests were going on, CRPF men attacked our vehicle by stones,” the paramedics said.
The windshield and windowpanes of the vehicle were smashed in the attack.
Confirming the attack, the Medical Superintendent, Dr Muhammad Amin Tabish, voiced serious concern over the alleged harassment of SKIMS staff, particularly females, who, he said, were working in very difficult conditions. He urged the law enforcement agencies to ensure protection and safe passage to the Institute staff, including doctors and paramedics. He said he had taken up the matter with the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ashiq Bukhari, who had assured investigation into the incident.
In the evening, witnesses said, CRPF troopers went berserk and beat up pedestrians without any provocation at Khanyar. They also damaged the vehicles parked on roadsides. They also set ablaze a motorcycle near Shiraz Chowk.
Protests and sit-ins were staged in the towns and districts of north and south Kashmir.
People came out on roads and erected tents and staged demonstrations at several localities in Pulwama, Pampore, Tral, Dooru Shahabad and Kulgam.
Protesters clashed with police near Nambalabal in Pampore. Police cane charged the protesters and lobbed tear smoke ammunition to control the situation. Witnesses said two youth were injured in the police action.
Locals said that police had arrested a youth from the area and they were protesting against his detention.
In Pulwama, protesters pelted stones on vehicles at Pampore, Muran, Tiken, Koil, Nowhar, Bandzoo, Pinglena and Tiken while strict restrictions were imposed in Shopian and Kakapora by police and CRPF.
In Islamabad, sit-ins were held at Kadipora, Reshi Bazaar, Malakhnag, Chini Chowk, Janglaat Mandi, Sheerpora, Bijbehara and several other places.
People at Kadipora raised the demand of removal of SOG camp from the area.
In North Kashmir, sit-ins were held at Sumbal, Bandipora, Pattan, Beerwah, Safapora and Ganderbal.
Peaceful protests and sit-ins were also reported from Kupwara district.
In several areas including Trehgam, Kralpora, Rigipora, Khumryal, Kupwara, Halmatpora, Kralgund, Handwara and Gunapora, people including women and children came out on roads as part of the ‘Quit Kashmir’ and ‘civil disobedience’ movement and held pro-freedom protests.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST