As curfew was lifted from all 10 districts, violence singed the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, leaving a civilian dead and over 100 injured. The house of a PDP MP was torched in south Kashmir.
Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Baseer Khan said more than 900 people attacked an Army convoy at Ladoora, Rafiabad, in Baramulla district. “Amidst stone-throwing, some rounds were fired at the convoy going to Kupwara. The Army fired in the air to disperse the mob. The police have started an investigation,” he said.
Four civilians were injured, and a student, identified as Manzoor Ahmed Lone, died.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the locals said clashes between the residents and the Army started in the morning when the latter stopped the movement of fruit trucks in Rafiabad and Sopore, asking the drivers to ply only during the shutdown period. “The youth was killed at a protest against the Army’s action halting the vehicles,” alleged Mohammad Yasin Khan, head of the Kashmir Economic Alliance, a traders’ body.
Protests roil north and south Kashmir
Widespread protests roiled Srinagar and north and south Kashmir on Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Protesters barricaded the old city with electric poles and sewer pipes to stop the vehicles of the security forces and clashed with security personnel. The shutdown called by the separatists resulted in thin traffic.
Around 70 protesters were injured in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian districts where the security forces used pellet guns to disperse protesters.
Bandipora and Baramulla in north Kashmir witnessed violent clashes.
Police quarters torched
Protesters torched the police quarters and the house of PDP Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmed Lawey at Hanad Chawalgam in Kulgam district. The attack came after the forces denied the residents permission to hold a pro-freedom protest. Mr. Laway, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2015, was not at home when the incident occurred. Over dozen civilians were injured in the clashes as guards fired in the air. A bank building was also damaged.
As Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is to lead an all-party delegation to Kashmir on September 4, separatists have extended the shutdown. They have asked the people to barricade all roads, including the Airport road, on September 3 and 4.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Governor N.N. Vohra and discussed the situation in the State.
The Hizb-ul Mujhadeen has said it attacked the Army at Akhnoor in Jammu, killing a soldier and injuring another.