Srinagar, July 2: Authorities continued to enforce a strict curfew across Kashmir Valley on Friday to ensure calm. Owing to restrictions, no prayers could be offered at a number of Masjids in curfewed areas including the Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid.
However, widespread protests erupted after Friday prayers with people defying restrictions and staging protest demonstrations at several places.
Strict curfew remained enforced for the day in Srinagar. On Thursday, police and other government vehicles made enouncements via public address system asking people to stay put in their homes. The uptown Srinagar was also brought under the ambit of curfew.
Due to strict curfew Friday prayers couldn’t be offered at several mosques in the old city especially those situated along the main roads. No prayers were held at the central Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta.
“The CRPF men didn’t allow us to come out of our homes. They told us that the Masjids will remain closed today,” locals said.
After every 100 meters, police and CRPF men had erected barricades and laid spools of razor wire to block the roads.
The roads leading to Eidgah ground, where Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani had asked people to assemble, were sealed by barricades. Additional police and paramilitary was deployed around the area.
Curfew also had an impact on the tourist areas like Dalgate, and Boulevard Road, which were deserted. The shops and restaurants along the Boulevard remained closed. Even the tourist spots like Zabarwan Park, Nishat and Shalimar gardens were closed during the day.
Protests broke out at Nowshera, Sekadafar, Noorbagh, Qamarwari, Natipora and 90 Feet Road at Soura. However, police and CRPF men quelled protests by chasing protesters away.

PROTESTS AT BAGH-E-MEHTAB
After Friday prayers, scores of people took out a procession from Mauchu, Bagh-e-Mehtab in city outskirts and attempted to march towards Srinagar.
Police baton charged and fired teargas shells to quell the protests. Witnesses said police also arrested several young boys while being chased away. Later, women came out on roads and protested. They demanded the release of the detained youth.
Locals said CRPF men barged into the residential houses and damaged the property and smashed the window panes of houses.

PROTESTS IN BUDGAM; 12 INJURED
Violent clashes broke out in the central Kashmir’s Budgam district today. Witnesses said people from Chuen, Dangerpora, Dardpora and several other villages took out a procession against the killing of young boys by police and CRPF and marched towards Budgam town. As soon as the procession reached near the township, contingents of police and central paramilitary forces intercepted them. They caned the processionists to disperse them.
However, clashes broke out as protesters pelted stones on forces. Police later fired scores of tear gas shells on protesters to disperse them. The clashes continued for several hours. Witnesses said 12 persons including six policemen were injured in the skirmish.

KHALID GUL ADDS FROM SOUTH KASHMIR
Following the killing of three youth in police firing in Islamabad on Tuesday, the chief religious clerk of South Kashmir, Mirwaiz Qazi Yasir Friday appealed people of the town to observe social boycott with police. The situation continued to remain tense in the district for the third consecutive day today as army staged a flag march in the main town and strict curfew was imposed in the district.
Addressing a Friday congregation, at Anchidora, Jamia Masjid where scores of people from adjacent villages and Mohallas had assembled to protest the killings, Yasir said people should observe social boycott with police. “I appeal people to follow the program. Shopkeepers should not sell anything to police who killed our youth.”
Rejecting the magisterial inquiry ordered into the killings, Yasir demanded that the district magistrate, his deputy, top police officials including DIG, SSP, DSP, SHO should be charged with the murder of three innocent youth.
“We can’t expect a low rung official appointed as inquiry officer to indict district magistrate and top police officials into the killing,” he said. “The magistrate and top police officials were present on the spot when the youth were shot dead by policemen.” Early in the morning army staged a flag march in the main market of Islamabad. Though heavy contingent of police and CRPF was deployed in the town and adjoining areas, reports of protest demonstrations were received from many villages and Mohallas including Anchidora, SK colony.
The District Commissioner, Jaipal Singh said situation remained “peaceful” in the Islamabad district and no “untoward incident” was reported from anywhere.
Curfew also remained imposed in Pulwama, Pampore, Shopian, Qaimoh, Kulgam and other towns of the south Kashmir.

SHAHID RAFIQ ADDS FROM KUPWARA
Police resorted to baton charge and fired dozens of tear smoke canisters and rounds of live ammunition in air to disperse a massive procession which was marching towards Kupwara after Friday prayers. Atleast 7 persons were injured in police action.
Defying restrictions, hundreds of people from Kralpora, Hayan, Trehgam and other adjoining areas marched towards Kupwara raising pro-freedom and anti-Government slogans. As the procession reached near Hiri army camp, police and CRPF stopped them by force, triggering clashes.
Forces tried to disperse the protesters but they pelted stones. Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
Eyewitnesses said at least 7 persons were injured. The injured were rushed to sub-district hospital Kupwara. Three critically injured were referred to Srinagar.
One of the injured is a woman who has been identified as Saja Begum of Hirrid.

CURFEW IMPOSED IN KUPWARA
Meanwhile, the district magistrate Kupwara has imposed curfew in Kupwara town, Hari, Trehgam and Kralpora areas.
An official statement quoting district magistrate as saying that curfew has been imposed in order to ensure safety of people and public property.
The district magistrate has appealed people to remain indoors and not to give heed to rumors.

ALTAF BABA ADDS FROM VARMUL
Curfew continued in Varmul district Friday. In Varmul town, authorities had sealed all the roads and lanes. The bridges in the town (Azadgunj Bridge, Transport yard Bridge and Cement Bridge) connecting old town with the civil line areas were blocked by police and CRPF.
Hundreds of people from Langate, Yaroo, Unisoo, Mawar, Chatipora and dozens of other villages staged massive protest demonstrations in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday afternoon.
People marched towards Handwara town, demanding punishment to the police and CRPF men involved in killings of youth.
As the protesters entered Handwara town, police swung into action and resorted to indiscriminate teargas shelling to disperse the protesters, but they offered resistance and clashed with cops. They also pelted stones on policemen.
The protests also broke in Unisoo, Chogal, and Wahipora on Handwara-Sopur highway in the district.
The protesters also burnt tyres and tried to proceed towards Srinagar to participate in Eidgah march, but were stopped by police.
After clashes, large contingent of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed in town to thwart the demonstrations.

GHULAM MUHAMMAD REPORTS FROM SOPUR
Two civilians were wounded when paramilitary CRPF troopers fired indiscriminately upon civilians on Thursday night at Seelu near Sopur.
Witnesses told Greater Kashmir that paramilitary CRPF troopers, returning back in vehicles from curfew duties, resorted to unprovoked firing when they reached Seelu, injuring two civilians.
The injured were identified as Javaid Ahmed Malla and Muhammed Abbas Dar both residents of Seelu and were rushed to sub district hospital Sopur.
Thousands of people from Dangarpora, Warpora, Seelu and other adjoining villages took to streets this morning raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans marched on foot towards Srinagar.
The police deployed at Shangargund used force to quell the procession forcing marchers to retreat.
After Friday prayers, hundreds of people took to streets at Hatishah, Nigli, Chinkipora and Batpora in Sopur town.
Defying curfew, youth took to streets raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and clashed with cops and CRPF personnel.
Forces fired teargas canisters and baton-charged the protesters to disperse them, but protesters offered stiff resistance and engaged them in ding-dong battles.
At least eight persons were wounded in the clashes between police and protesters in the town throughout the day.
The 75-year-old Haji Ghulam Ahmed, who received a pellet injury, was shifted to Bone and Joints hospital, Srinagar.

SHEIKH NAZIR ADDS FROM GANDERBAL
Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in the market places of the entire district here to thwart the protests.
There was a complete shutdown in the entire district and streets wore deserted look. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

TARIQ RASOOL ADDS FROM BANDIPORA
Police locked down North Kashmir district of Bandipora on Friday to prevent people from marching towards Eidgah, however thousands of people staged protests at Naidkhai, Sumbal, Hajin, Safapora, Aloosa and Ashtangoo towns of Bandipora. Defying restrictions, protestors tried to march towards Eidgah, however they were not allowed to move ahead as barricades were erected by police at Sumbal to halt any movement.
In Naidkhai and Hajin town, thousands of people assembled in respective Grand Mosques (Jamia Mosques) were from they tried to march towards Eidgah.
They clashed with policemen and CRPF troopers and engaged them in ding-dong battles for the rest of the day.
In the neighbouring Safapora town, people staged protest in main chowk against killing of innocent youths.
Most of the Imams leading Friday prayers here in Bandipora condemned the killing of youth. They demanded probe into the killing and stern punishment to the killers.
Meanwhile the ban of selling newspapers in district Bandipora continued on third consecutive day.

SITUATION NORMAL: POLICE
Meanwhile, police Friday said that situation remained by and large peaceful across the valley baring a few incidents of stone pelting in which 8 policemen and 2 civilians got injured.
Curfew continued to be in force in Sopur, Pulwama, Kulgam, Srinagar and Islamabad. Relaxation in curfew was given in Sopur for two hours.
According to police, stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from Shankergund in Sopur, Trehgam in Kupwara district, Samboora in Pulwama district and Choon in Budgam district. However, police and CRPF chased the miscreants using minimal force.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST