Srinagar, Sept 24: Senior JKLF leader, Showkat Ahmed Bakshi, his mother, two sisters his niece and five others were wounded when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire on civilians at Bemina here on Friday evening. Authorities imposed strict curfew and restrictions across the Valley throughout the day. No relaxations were given in the summer capital while curfew was relaxed for a few hours in the rural areas.

BEMINA SHOOTOUT
Witnesses said at around 6pm in the evening, forces opened fire on people when they came out of their homes near Gousia Colony, Bemina.
“There were rumours that curfew has been relaxed and people came out. However,  forces came rushing and opened fire,” witnesses said.
The injured were shifted to SKIMS medical college, Bemina. “All of them have scattered pellet injuries on their bodies. All of them are stable; we have treated them and referred four of them to SKIMS, Soura,” an official at the medical college said.
The injured included senior leader of JKLF, Showkat Bakshi, his two sisters—Shazia and Shamoona, his niece—Qurat-ul-Ain and his mother.
Police, however, said three persons were injured in the incident. It said the people defied curfew, staged protests and resorted to stone pelting on forces. “In an effort to control the situation, three persons including one lady sustained minor injuries,” a police spokesman claimed.
Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed at some places in north, south and central Kashmir, police said.
Curfew was relaxed in Trehgam and Kralpora from 03.30 PM to 6.00 PM while in Kupwara town from 3.15 PM to 6.30 PM.
In Islamabad and Bijbehara towns of south Kashmir, the restrictions were relaxed from 4.30 to 7 in the evening.
In Kulgam, the curfew was relaxed from 4 PM onwards.
In Kangan, curfew was lifted from 4 PM to 7 PM and at Ganderbal from 5 PM to 7 PM.
Earlier in the day, curfew was lifted in several parts of Sopur town including Chankhan-Hathishah Bridge, Iqbal market, Noorbagh and New Colony from 7 am to 10 am. Strict curfew was later imposed throughout the day.
In the summer capital, no relaxations were given in curfew. Meanwhile, a spokesman of JKLF has condemned the firing on protesters at Bemina in which its senior leader, Showkat Bakshi, and his family members were injured.
He termed the firing as “dastardly” saying such tactics won’t dampen the spirit of people of Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST