Kashmir was on the edge on Monday as the civilian death toll from the blast at the site of an encounter in Kulgam rose to seven, with one more person dying due to injuries.
Javid Ahmad Lone, a civilian from Kulgam’s Hawoora village, died in a Srinagar hospital on Sunday night, said an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Earlier on Sunday, six civilians were killed when they triggered unexploded ammunition at the site of a clash between militants and security forces, immediately after the operation was called off following the death of three militants.
A complete shutdown was observed in the Kashmir valley to protest the deaths. Stone pelting by youth was reported in many parts, as several civil society groups held demonstrations in Srinagar.
Separatists detained
While the authorities detained all top ranking separatist leaders, security forces placed concertina wires along the main stretches in the old city to keep protesters at bay. Smoke shells were fired in many parts to disperse stone-throwing protesters. Traffic was sparse in Srinagar with demonstrators having blocked many city streets with boulders.
Kulgam, where the incident took place, was tense forcing authorities to impose curfew-like restrictions. Many areas of the Jammu region’s Chenab Valley also observed a shutdown.
Several student groups in Sopore and Srinagar held demonstrations. Female students at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology also held a protest.
MLA Engineer Rasheed was detained when he tried to lead a demonstration in Kupwara. “It’s the obligation of security forces to sanitise the area before allowing people to visit the encounter site,” said Mr. Rasheed, adding that “Kashmiris are being butchered under a well hatched conspiracy.”
In a move to ward off more trouble, authorities had decided to seal the Lal Chowk city centre on Tuesday in the wake of separatists’ call for a protest march, the official said.
Joint Resistance Leadership, a separatists’ grouping comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for a “peaceful sit-in”.
Welcoming Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement on the Kulgam incident, the Mirwaiz said, “People of Kashmir appreciate Pakistan’s concern, but to put an end to the appalling grind of repression and human rights abuse that Kashmiris are suffering, urgently requires Pakistan, as a party to the dispute, to do much more.”
Peoples Democratic Party vice-president Abdul Rahman Veeri demanded an impartial probe into the incident. “A time-bound investigation is needed into the incident and justice must be accorded to the victims. The Centre should initiate dialogue and reconciliation so that the further loss of precious lives is stopped,” said Mr. Veeri.
National Conference general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar also called for the resumption of dialogue over the Kashmir issue.
