Fresh violence, including attacks on Army camps, on Friday left 65 people injured in Kashmir as protesters defied curfew and restrictions in 10 districts on a day when separatists had called for a protest march towards the Jamia Masjid here.
A Srinagar-based police spokesman said 70 incidents of stone-pelting were reported from across the Valley. “The miscreants attacked a number of security establishments and camps. Eight civilians and 46 police personnel were injured,” said police.
The police said a grenade was lobbed in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. A government building in Rafiabad and an animal husbandry office in Shopian were set afire.
Contrary to the police figures, Srinagar hospitals, Shri Maharaja Hari Singh and Bones and Joints Hospitals, put the number of severely injured civilian at 19. Number of injured civilians have gone up drastically on Friday. Over 3600 people were injured since militant Burhwan Wani was killed on July 8.
Hospital sources said three youths received bullet injuries when the Army allegedly opened fire in Kupwara district’s Gushe area following an anti-India procession after Friday prayers. Hundreds of protesters attacked the boundary wall of the Army’s 62 Rashtriya Rifles camp in Chodergund area of Shopian district. Aerial firing forced the protesters to leave the area.
At least nine youths were injured in clashes in parts of Srinagar. Three of the injured were admitted in Srinagar hospitals from Pulwama, Shopian and Baramulla districts. Scores were injured when the police burst teargas shells to disperse a group of people marching towards the U.N. office in Srinagar's Sonawar area.
Curfew and restrictions were declared in all 10 districts in the Valley. The Internet services continue to remain suspended.
Geelani, Mirwaiz held
To foil separatists march towards Jamia Masjid, separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were arrested in Srinagar.
The separatists call, however, evoked significant response in south and north Kashmir where processions were held after the Friday prayers, resulting in clashes and injuries.
“Neither economic packages and nor jobs can make us surrender. The struggle will remain on till political aspirations of people are met,” said Hurriyat chairman Geelani.
