Srinagar, June 21: Kashmir valley observed a complete bandh on Monday in response to the Hurriyat Conference (G) strike call, supported by other separatist groups, against the killing of two youth in old city even as the conglomerate extended the strike and called for a civil curfew on Tuesday.
Parts of the city, which witnessed massive protests after the killing of a youth Javaid Ahmad Malla of Noorbagh, were placed under curfew-like restrictions for the second day running while protests rocked several parts of the uptown amid a complete shutdown.
As a routine, authorities imposed restrictions in the five police stations including Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Safakadal and Nowhatta. Police and paramilitary CRPF troopers, deployed in strength to stave away protests, had blocked roads, lanes and by lanes by barricades and concertina wires to restrict the public movement. They beat up people who came out of their houses.
At several places including NoorBagh—where teenager Javaid Ahmad Malla was shot dead yesterday—youth staged protests and hurled stones on forces from lanes, but they remained restricted to internal areas. In uptown areas, a complete shutdown was observed as shops, businesses, schools, colleges, banks, courts and offices remained closed. The traffic also came to a halt.
Protests erupted in several areas including Maisuma, Natipora, Bemina, Chattabal, Batamaloo, Sanatnagar, Sonwar, Nishat, Shalimar, and Harwan. Protesters, shouting anti-India slogans and demanding action against those involved in killings, fought pitched battles with police and CRPF men as they pelted stones on them. The forces repeatedly baton charged the protesters. At Maisuma and Gow Kadal police fired several shots in air to disperse the protesters.
CONTINUE PROTESTS: HURRIYAT (G)

The Hurriyat acting chairman, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, has asked people to continue protests and called for shutdown on Tuesday against the “gruesome killings of innocents.”
“Civil curfew shall be observed on Tuesday. People shall also raise black flags as a mark of protest on their houses,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.
The conglomerate has urged people to stage peaceful protests from evening prayers in mosques across the Valley. It will announce next programme on Tuesday evening. The spokesman said that an “important press briefing” is being convened on Thursday where several “significant announcements” would be made.
REST OF VALLEY

Life came to standstill in the rest of the districts of Valley amid protests at several places. Reports of shutdown poured in from the districts and towns of Budgam, Varmul, Sopur, Kupwara, Handwara, Islamabad, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Ganderbal and Bandipora.
In Handwara, hundreds of students including girls staged protests against the killings and raised anti-India and anti-police slogans and took out a march.
Police swung into action and detained at least four students.
In Ganderbal, at least seven students, including a girl, and a college professor were allegedly injured when police used force against protesters.
“A police party while chasing the protestors away entered the college campus when the students were having lunch Win the hostel and resorted to unprovoked smoke shelling and lathicharge injuring our seven students and a professor,” Principal, college of physical education Ganderbal, Dr. Hartej Singh said.
“Police entered to the campus after crossing the college fencing and beat up students ruthlessly and when one of the professors intervened asking police to stop beating his students, he was also beaten like a criminal,” he said.
The injured were identified as Professor Mushtaq Ahmed Azad, Amir Akbar, Bilal Ahmed Dar, Showkat Ahmed, Mubashir Ali, Tariq Ahmed and Sumaira Maqbool. They were later shifted to Sub-district Hospital Ganderbal for treatment.
Earlier police burst teargas shells and resorted to lathi charge when a group of youth resorted to stone pelting on police in the Qamaria Chowk.
In Varmul town, protests erupted at main chowk, Tehsil road, Khanpora and Delina localities where youth staged demos. Police used force against protesters resulting in injuries to four persons.
At a few places in Kulgam and Islamabad towns, people came out on roads and protested the killings.
In main town Kulgam, youth came out on streets and staged demos. They also pelted stones on vehicles forcing them to go off roads. Protests also erupted at Khudwani and Qaimoh.
In Islamabad, clashes erupted in Malakhnag, Reshipora and Kadipora. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters who retaliated by pelting stones. Four policemen were injured in the day-long clashes.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST