Srinagar, Oct 18: The government on Monday foiled ‘Palhallan Chalo’ programme of Hurriyat Conference (G) by imposing strict curfew and restrictions in majority of areas in the valley. At least one dozen persons were wounded in clashes between police and protesters in South Kashmir.
Early morning hundreds of policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers were deployed in strength to prevent people from marching towards Palhallan and all roads leading to the village were sealed off by laying barricades and concertina wires on entry points.
 After eight deaths in police and paramilitary CRPF firing, the village is reeling under continuous curfew and restrictions for past 35 days.
 Meanwhile, strict curfew was imposed in areas falling under jurisdictions of police station Rainawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Mahraj Gunj, Safa Kadal in old city and Parimpora, Qamarwari, and Bemina in civil lines.
 In south Kashmir, fierce clashes broke out between police and protesters in Islamabad and Pulwama districts in which several persons were wounded.
 Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that police and paramilitary forces baton-charged and lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse a pro-freedom procession in Samboora, Pulwama, wounding at least half a dozen persons including three critically.
 They said Muhammad Yousuf, who was not part of the protests, was severely thrashed by the forces. He was rushed to sub-district hospital Pampore where his condition is stated to be critical.
 Clashes also broke out in Islamabad town in which six persons were wounded. Hundreds of youth took to streets in large numbers in areas of Malakhnag, Cheeni Chowk and Reeshi Bazar in the old town and pelted stones on the forces and in retaliation six persons were wounded.
 The residents of Aishmuqam alleged that army men barged into their houses without provocation last night.
 “They barged into houses and roughed up inmates,” they said.
 Meanwhile complete shutdown was observed in all south Kashmir towns.
 Strict restrictions were put in place in Handwara, Kupwara, Sopur and Varmul towns of north Kashmir.

POLICE SPEAK:
 A police spokesman said that situation passed off peacefully in the valley. He said curfew restrictions as a preventive measure were put in place in the jurisdictions of police station Rainawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Mahraj Gund, Safa Kadal, Parimpora and Police Division Qamarwari and Bemina in Srinagar city. 
 Similar restrictions were also enforced in Pampore town, Varmul, Sopur, Kupwara and Handwara.
 However he said there were no curfew restrictions in district Budgam, Ganderbal, Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Bandipora.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST