Srinagar, June 22: Normal life came to a standstill in the Valley for the second day running on Tuesday as the call for civil curfew by the Hurriyat Conference (G) against the killing of innocents evoked a total response from the people.
All the shops, businesses, banks, courts and educational institutions remained closed while traffic in all the 10 districts of the Valley remained suspended. In the old city areas here, authorities continued with the curfew-like restrictions in the five police stations of Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Safakadal and Nowhatta. The roads remained blocked by barricades and concertina wires and dotted by hundreds of police and paramilitary CRPF troopers wearing riot gear.
In uptown areas, few private vehicles could be seen plying on roads.
The situation remained peaceful compared to the widespread protests during the past two days. However, protests broke out at Gojwara, Nawab Bazar and M R Gunj, but police swung into action and quelled the protests.
The locals were protesting the highhandedness of police and CRPF saying they beat up locals without any provocation.
Mild protests also rocked Maisuma, Nishat and Qamarwari localities in the evening.
PROTESTS IN ISLAMABAD TOWN, YOUTH CRITICAL:

Protests rocked several localities in Islamabad town on Tuesday. Youth staged demos in Reshi Bazar, Malakhnag and Chini Chowk. They pelted stones on police and CRPF who caned the protesters. The clashes continued till late evening.
However, situation turned ugly when a posse of SOG personnel while chasing away protesters barged into residential houses and beat up inmates.
Witnesses said the SOG men from Kadipora camp barged into houses at Bakshi Abad and ruthlessly beat men, women and children. Several civilians were injured.
A youth identified as Burhan Rafiqi, 18, son of Muhammad Yahya Rafiqi of Baskhi Abad was critically wounded after SOG men beat him up with batons and gun butts. He received severe head injuries and was shifted to a hospital where he was said to be in a critical condition, witnesses said.
After the incident, protests intensified as locals poured on to streets and demanded that the SOG camp be removed from the locality.
People also staged protests outside the district hospital where many injured were shifted. SOG men later stormed the hospital and fired tear smoke shells into the wards.
PROTESTS IN VARMUL:

In several localities of Varmul town, people staged protests at Main Chowk, Farooqi Point, Tehsil Road and Khanpora.
Youth pelted stones on police and CRPF as the latter tried to quell protests. At least four persons were injured and an ambulance damaged in the clashes.
Another youth was critically wounded in the evening. Eyewitnesses told GK that Farooq Ahmed Sofi of Kakar Hamam Varmul was critically wounded when police fired rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
“He received rubber bullet in the chest and has been refereed to SKIMS by doctors at district hospital Varmul,” they said.
‘NO STRIKE FOR NEXT TWO DAYS’:

The Hurriyat Conference (G) spokesman quoting the conglomerate’s acting Chairman, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, said that no strike shall be observed on Wednesday and Thursday.
“People, however, shall continue protests against the gruesome killings of innocent youth by police and paramilitary troopers. They shall raise black flags on their houses, shops and vehicles to register their protest. People shall also protest in Masjids across Valley by raising slogans and staging peaceful protests from Maghrib prayers to Isha prayers,” he said.
The further programme, he said, shall be announced at an important news conference on Thursday.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST