Srinagar, June 19: Restrictions continued in Bandipora town of north Kashmir for the fourth day Tuesday following eruption of protests over the alleged desecration of Quran at Haskalan Tragbal.
The town and its peripheries are under strict restrictions since Saturday when the people staged massive protests against alleged desecration of the holy book. Several persons were wounded as police and paramilitary CRPF used force to quell the protestors.
“Restrictions remained enforced in the areas falling within the municipal limits of the town to maintain law and order,” said an official.
At Nopwora, Qadeem Jamia, Hospital Road and other major entry points of the town police were preventing movement of people. Early in the morning on Tuesday police and CRPF men were deployed in strength in the entire township to prevent people from staging fresh protests.
Locals alleged that the CRPF men went berserk and without any provocation barged into several houses in main town and smashed the window panes.
Despite heavy deployment today, youth came out on streets at several places in main town near Peer Masjid, Nowpora, Hospital Road, Near Gurduwara and Hashmeer Masjid and clashed with police and CRPF men.
Late in the evening when the deployment was reduced youth again took to streets in and around the town. The youth hurled bricks and stones on the forces and offered tough resistance. Clashes were going on till this report was filed. Several people including cops were reportedly injured in fresh clashes.

CE BRO SPEAKS
Meanwhile reports said that residents of Gurez valley on Monday took out a procession against alleged desecration of Quran. The protesters reportedly attacked several huts of Project Beacon’s GREF near village Hussan.
Reports said that around sixteen BRO laborers sustained injuries during the attack and all the laborers were later on shifted to nearby Army camp.
Confirming that BECON sheds were torched by the protestors in Gurez, Chief Engineer BRO T S Rawat told Greater Kashmir that around twelve sheds were damaged by the protesters.
“They burnt al the belongings even ration of the laborers. Dozens have sustained injures and we have reported the matter to the local the police station,” Rawat said.

AUTHORITIES SPEAK
Terming the reports of desecration as a mere rumor spread by some “miscreants”, a police officer said; “We are investigating the matter and have detained several people for questing. We appeal people to maintain calm and peace till the truth is unveiled.”
He said the situation will stabilize by tomorrow.

BACKGROUND
Protests erupted in the area when reports of desecration of Quran by some miscreants in Haskalan area near Peer Baba on Gurez-Bandipora road came in on Friday.
A case was registered by the police against unknown persons and around 10 BEACON laborers were detained for questioning regarding the incident.
Locals told Greater Kashmir that the incident of the desecration took place immediately after local BEACON laborers come to blows with the outside state workers.
Immediately after the news spread in the area people came out on roads and staged massive protests forcing police to impose restrictions.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST