Srinagar, July 24: While restrictions were lifted from most parts of the Valley Saturday, curfew continued to remain imposed in Kupwara, Pattan and Pulwama towns following violent protests.
In summer capital here, lawyers and doctors, responding to the Hurriyat call, staged protests against the civilian killings and human rights violations in the Valley.
The doctors protested at the Government Medical College here by staging a silent sit-in protest. Carrying placards and banners—“Stop war crimes in Kashmir”, “We want Freedom” and “Release Political Prisoners”—the medicos assembled in the GMC premises and staged protest demonstrations.
“We want to register our protest against the innocent killings and suppression of the peaceful protests. We want an end to the human rights violations and the government’s anti-people stance.”
The lawyers, under the banner of High Court Bar Association assembled at Saddar Court complex here and staged a sit-in demonstration. They protested the civilian killings and the government’s ‘tyrannical response’ to the situation. They demanded immediate release of the Bar Association president, Mian Abdul Qayoom and its general secretary, G N Shaheen who have been arrested and booked under PSA.
At Nowhatta and Bohri Kadal, young boys staged protests in the morning but they later dispersed peacefully. Protests erupted in downtown Nowpora against the arrest of a local youth. People came out on the streets and enforced road blockades by laying barricades disrupting the traffic.
The youth resorted to stone pelting. However, police swung into action and dispersed them.
In the rest of the city, restrictions were lifted today, but prohibitory orders remained imposed in various parts, mainly in downtown areas. Thin movement of private vehicles was witnessed in some areas. But the police and CRPF men remained deployed as usual to quell protests.
Shops and business as usual remained closed.
In the inner parts of downtown, masked men, who claimed to lead the pro-freedom protest demonstrations, took a dig at UJC chairman and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief commander, Syed Salah-ud-din for “speaking against the strikes.”
“Those who will try to sabotage the ongoing agitation won’t be spared. This is tantamount to making a sell-out of the martyrs. Eighteen youth died during the recent protests, we won’t let go their sacrifices waste,” they said.
Salah-ud-din had on Saturday, in an interview to a news agency, KNS, said, “continuing strike was not a solution to the Kashmir problem and the leadership must unite and unanimously think of a programme whereby “the struggle against India continues and people too don’t suffer.”

NORTH KASHMIR
In Kupwara, authorities imposed curfew during the day. Police and CRPF troopers restricted public movement and blocked roads at several places.
In Bandipora, lawyers and doctors staged protests on the Hurriyat call.
Lawyers marched from Sumbal Court to Jamia Masjid where chairman, Sumbal Bar Association Advocate Mushtaq Ahmed addressed them. They demanded end to human rights violations and punishment to policemen involved in civilian killings.
The speakers condemned the attitude of government towards lawyers and threatened massive agitation if HCBA president, Mian Qayoom was not released.
Similarly, lawyers associated with Bar Association, Bandipora assembled within the premises of the Sessions Court Bandipora and staged a sit-in.

SOUTH KASHMIR
Curfew was imposed in Kakapora and Pulwama towns in south of Kashmir today. CRPF and policemen were deployed heavily in the town to quell protests. They imposed strict restrictions on civilian movement.
Witnesses said at Kakapora, a lecturer was injured when CRPF men thrashed him for violating curfew.
He has been identified as Abdul Ahmad Bhat of Murran, Pulwama. He was on way to Higher Secondary school, Naira, Pulwama.
The paramilitary CRPF troopers on Saturday evening allegedly thrashed a youth in Nawdal area of Tral in south Kashmir.
The locals said that Muzzafar Ahmed Shah, son of Gyassuddin Shah was beaten to pulp by CRPF men this evening.
“He received fractures in arms and legs,” they alleged.
The residents accused CRPF men of unleashing reign of terror in the area.
“They are harassing and intimidating our youth, from the day camp was set up here,” they said.
In Islamabad town, several persons, including a few cops were injured in the clashes that broke out between the protesters and the troopers. Early in the morning the deployment in the town was reduced and restrictions eased as private transport plied on the roads. However, soon youth in groups organized themselves and pelted stones on the police and CRPF in Lal Chowk, Reshi Bazar, court road and Nai Basti. Police retaliated by resorting to baton charge and chasing them away.
Late in the afternoon clashes again erupted in the volatile areas of the old town including Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk, Kadipora and Sarnal as youth pelted stones and bricks on the CRPF personals injuring three of them. Police and CRPF men retaliated by firing several tear gas canisters. The CRPF personals also allegedly broke the window panes of several houses in Kadipora and Sarnal and beat up the pedestrians. Though additional contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were called out in these areas but the clashes were on till late in the evening and spread in other areas around too including Sherpora and Janglat mandi.
Later in the evening, reports said the security forces raided several houses in Nai Basti, KP Road, and picked up some youth, triggering protests in the area. “Following the incident the women took to streets and raised pro-freedom slogans,” they said.
Report said the troops damaged windows of many houses. Some women were also injured in the action by police and troops.
Clashes also broke out in Kulgam and Shopian towns while severe restrictions were imposed in Pulwama town which had witnesses violent clashes on Friday. An undeclared curfew was clamped in Chatipora area were several police men had sustained injuries in Fridays clashes. Reports of shutdown and protests were also received from Bijbhehra, Pampore, Tral, Qaimoh and Awantipora areas.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST