The cycle of violence in Kashmir Valley continued for the fourth day on Friday, which left one more civilian dead and three others injured, despite curfew-like restrictions and Internet blockade in large parts of the Valley.
Protesters, who took out a march in Kupwara’s Natnusa area over the killing of four civilians since Tuesday, raised anti-India slogans and hurled stones at an Army camp after the Friday prayers.
Arif Ahmad Dar (18) was among four others who received bullet injuries in alleged firing from the Army camp. “Mr. Dar died later. The three others are stable,” said Block Medical Officer, Kupwara, Fareed Ahmad.
The root of the protests was an alleged molestation bid in Handwara town.
Protests spread to most districts of north and south Kashmir on Friday. At least five towns in south Kashmir witnessed violent clashes between protesters and security forces. In north Kashmir, Handwara, Langate, Kupwara, Bandipora, Kangan and Baramulla towns remained on the boil.
More than five policemen, including a station house officer (SHO), were injured on Friday. Around five dozen policemen suffered injuries since Tuesday, according to a police spokesman.
In Srinagar, stone-throwing protesters poured onto the streets in the hitherto peaceful areas of Zakura, Habbak, Natipora and Rangreth.
Security forces were busy all day chasing small mobs that were planning to take over the streets in the city despite curfew-like restrictions in seven police stations in Srinagar.
Inter-State train services have been suspended. All examinations scheduled for Saturday have been cancelled because of the fresh shutdown called by separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called upon security forces “to abide by the standard operating procedure and avoid civilian casualty.”
Firebrand MLA Engineer Rashid, whose constituency saw one casualty in the firing, said: “Unless the Kashmir issue is resolved, incidents like Handwara are bound to happen.” Congress State president G.A. Mir asked the PDP-led government “to accept its failure.”
Meanwhile, the authorities once again disallowed the National Conference from visiting the families of the Handwara victims.
On Tuesday, after the alleged molestation bid sparked protests in Handwara, two youths died in firing by security forces. Later, a woman and a youth were killed in Langate and Kupwara. The death toll of civilians has risen to five with the death of Dar on Friday.
