In a fresh flare-up a protester was killed and five were injured in Kashmir Valley, with curfew entering the fourteenth day on Friday.
The protester was killed in clashes with the security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district after post-Friday prayers.
Scores sustained pellet and bullet injuries in fresh violence in at least six districts in the Valley. Five of the seriously injured were admitted to hospitals in Srinagar. One injured is said to be critical.
Meanwhile, an injured civilian from Kokernag area died of his injuries on Friday morning, taking the death toll to 47.
Separatists continue to remain either under house arrest or in detention. No prayers were allowed at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and other mosques on the main roads.
No response to CM’s call
A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s three-point resolution, calling for dialogue with all stakeholders after an all-party meet, there was a cold response from separatists.
“The government is in a constant state of denial and is trying hard to dub the people’s movement as a sponsored one,” said JKLF chief Yasin Malik.
Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani questioned the sincerity behind Ms. Mufti’s visit to a victim’s family. “If you had even a fraction of conscience left in you, you should have resigned from the post,” Mr. Geelani told Ms. Mufti.
A joint statement of Geelani, Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq asked people to continue with protests. Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin asked youth in Kashmir “to follow the joint calls of leadership.” “The government has to face Burhan Wani at every point. The fight will continue till the withdrawal of the security forces. The blood of Wani united the people and leadership and has gathered them on a platform and it is expected that such unity will continue at any cost,” Salahuddin said in a statement.
