Srinagar, July 3: Kashmir valley had no respite from the ongoing curfew on Saturday. The old Srinagar city, as usual, remained under siege while mild relaxation was given in the civil line areas of the summer capital. Curfew continued to remain imposed in South Kashmir’s Islamabad township for the fourth consecutive day even as police fired warning shots and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protestors during two-hour relaxation this morning. Curfew also continued in Kupwara district.
The old city here remained under siege for the eighth day running today. Owing to curfew, locals are facing acute shortage of the essentials including food items. The curfew has been intense in the areas falling under the ambit of seven old city police stations.
The situation remained calm without any major protest demonstration being reported from these areas.
In the uptown areas, deployment of police and CRPF troopers was made in strength but unlike old city areas there were no restrictions on civilian movement. Also a few private vehicles and auto-rickshaws could be seen plying on some routes.
Superintendent of Police, (City North), Showkat Hussain told Greater Kashmir that no protests were held in any part of the old city during the day. “It has been peaceful today,” he said.
In Islamabad town, curfew was relaxed for two hours from 7 am this morning. However, the relaxation was withdrawn immediately as people took to the streets in Lal Chowk and Sherpora areas and pelted stones on police and paramilitary CRPF.
“We don’t need bread and milk. It is better to starve than see the killers of three innocent teenagers roaming free,” shouted the angry youth.
As the protests intensified, police lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protestors. However, there were no reports of any injury. Soon additional deployment of police and paramilitary personnel were pressed in as announcements were made asking the people to stay indoors as curfew was imposed once again.  However, in the civil lines area of Khanabal-Pahalgam (KP) road there was no relaxation in curfew.
People of Naibasti, Laizbal, Gulshanabad and other localities of the town on the Khanabal-Pahalgam road allege that as soon as the dusk sets in the CRPF personals start harassing the people residing on the road side.
“As the Amarnath Yatries start proceeding towards Pahalgam, the CRPF men without any provocation barge into our houses and beat up the inmates including women and children. They also smash the window panes of our houses and pelt stones into our houses,” said the residents of these areas.
Meanwhile, South Kashmir Mirwaiz, Qazi Yasir has reiterated that the protests in the town against the cold blooded murder of three teenagers will continue, come what may.
“I appeal the people of Islamabad to continue their protests unless and until the case of murder is registered against the officials of district and police involved in the murder of three innocent teenagers inside the lawn of the residential house in Anchidora,” Yasir maintained adding that social boycott against the police will continue till then. He also rejected the magisterial probe ordered into the killings and termed it as a mere eyewash.
Meanwhile, shutdown and protests were witnessed in the adjoining areas of the town including Mattan, Bijbehara, Dooru and Achabal. Shutdown was also observed in Pahalgam.
Strict restrictions were enforced in the neighbouring districts of Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian amid clashes between the police and the protesters. However, there were no reports of any injury.

BUDGAM
Meanwhile, the Budgam town in central Kashmir and its peripheries were deserted with contingents of police and CRPF troopers dotting streets. Massive clashes had erupted in the town on Friday after locals carried out a protest procession.

KUPWARA
Fresh clashes between protesters and forces broke out today here at Trehgam town. Defying curfew, which was imposed in the aftermath of the massive protests on Friday, hundreds of youth came out on streets at  Trehgam and its adjoining areas protesting against excessive force used by police and CRPF against the protesters at Hiri and recent  killings of youth in valley,
Police and CRPF, deployed in strength in the area to check protests, tried to disperse them by baton charging. However, protesters didn’t relent. Police then resorted to firing tear gas shells and ammunition rounds in air. Protesters in reply hurled stones on them.
Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, younger brother of slain JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat, told Greater Kashmir over phone from Trehgam that forces have ransacked the JKLF office at Trehgam and also burnt the photographs and posters of Shaheed Maqbool Bhat.
Hundreds of women of the area also joined the protests. Stone pelting and massive protests by people including, youth women and children forced the police and CRPF to retreat from the area.  At the time of filing of this report, town was vacated by forces and a massive procession was heading towards the Shaheed Mazar Trehgam.
At least five persons including some police men were injured in the clashes.
Pertinently yesterday’s violent clashes, in which seven persons including two police men were injured at Hiri, forced the district administration to impose curfew in Kupwara town, Hari, Trehgam and Kralpora areas.

SOPUR/VARMUL
The curfew was lifted from limits of Sopur town on Saturday morning by administration after eight days. The shops, business establishment and school remained closed for ninth consecutive day in town. The curfew was imposed in town last week after the killing of two youth by paramilitary CRPF troopers. Two more youth were killed in town during the curfew. Scores of youth however took to streets in police station area of the town and fought with cops in the area.
Meanwhile, Varmul town remained calm today with no protests or incident of stone pelting being reported from any locality.
The shops and business establishments remained closed today while traffic also remained off roads.

BANDIPORA
An unannounced relaxation in curfew today provided an opportunity to the people to buy essential commodities here in Bandipora, Peaceful demonstrations were staged by people at Hajin, Sumbal and Naidkhi townships of Bandipora to protest the recent killings, no untoward incident was reported.
Barring few protest demonstrations, the unannounced relaxation today passed off peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from any part of district, however heavy contingents of police and CRPF were still deployed on roads to face any eventuality.
The normal life was affected partially for sixth consecutive day today as the main business establishments, Banks, schools and commercial transport were remained off the road. However, few Auto Rickshaws started plying on the Bandipora roads since morning giving a sigh of relief to the locals and other outsiders who were stuck in the various parts of valley due to curfew restrictions.
Long queues of persons were seen at the shops of essential commodities, including those of chemists, general stores, vegetables and fruits. People were also seen in large numbers outside the closed Banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) also observed heavy rush of commuters to withdraw money, residents were seen surrounding the milkmen to get some milk.
Preparing to face any long strike large numbers of persons were seen at different petrol station to get petrol and diesel. However most of the traders and Petrol pump owners complain of lack of commodities.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST