Youth dies during clashes in Budgam, 30 more injured in fresh clashes across Kashmir

  • Youth dies in clashes in Budgam, Police say’s cardiac arrest, local teargas
  • Prayers not allowed at Jamia Masjid on 15th Friday
  • Crackdown continues in Baramulla, several arrested
  • PDP legislator’s house attacked in Tral
  • 72 more arrested in 24 hours: Police

youth-dies-during-clashes-in-budgam-30-more-injured-in-fresh-clashes-across-kashmirA youth died during clashes between protesters and police in Budgam district while post-Friday protests were held at different places amid restrictions and shutdown called by separatists on the 105th day of the current unrest.
The clashes between the protesters and police took place at Nasrullah Pora and the adjoining Mirgund villages of Budgam district in central Kashmir after the Friday prayers. A police spokesman said Junaid Ahmad from Nasrullah Pora was brought to Jhelum Valley College Hospital this afternoon, where the doctors declared him brought dead. “According to doctors, prima facie Junaid died of a cardiac arrest as there were no marks of any injury on his body,” the police said. The residents alleged that the youth died of suffocation due to the shells lobbed by police personnel.

At least 30 youth sustained injuries in clashes that broke out after Friday congregational prayers in various parts of Kashmir while at least 72 more youth were arrested by police in the past 24 hours, reports and witnesses said. A complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir for the 105th consecutive day while government continued to disallow prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar for the 15th straight week. Pertinently, 94 people including two cops have been killed while 15000 others sustained injuries—780 of them hit by pellets in eyes—during the ongoing uprising triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Dozens have already lost their vision due to grave pellet injuries.

Srinagar
The police imposed strict curfew in various old Srinagar areas including Nowhatta where Friday congregational prayers were not allowed at Jamia Masjid for 15th week. All roads leading to the grand mosque were sealed with barbed wire amid heavy deployment of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel. Evening protests erupted in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Gojwara, Sekidafar, Saraf Kadal, Rainawari and Kathidarwaza areas. Reports of protests and clashes also poured in from uptown areas that include Nowgam, Peerbagh, Barzulla, Azad Basti Natipora and Chanapora. In Lal Chowk, forces had placed barricades at various points from Amira Kadal to Dalgate to prevent any pro-freedom march. Pertinently, joint resistance leadership had asked people to march towards residences of legislators.
Late evening reports said two students were detained by police after they were coming out of a local masjid at Nopora, Sekidafar. At least five youth sustained injuries across Srinagar in late night clashes, they said.

South Kashmir
At least 12 persons were injured in clashes with forces in Pulwama district while inmates of a family fell unconscious after a tear-gas shell fired by forces landed inside their house in Dooru area of Anantnag district on Friday.
Reports said protesters attacked the house of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA in Tral with stones.
Reports and witnesses said clashes erupted in Tahab, Newa, Nikas-Hall, Koil and Dalipora villages of the district after congregational Friday prayers. Forces lobbed teargas shells and fired pellets to quell the protesters, resulting in injuries to at least six persons, they said. Six persons were also injured in clashes that took place in Tral area of the district.
“Youth held pro-freedom demonstrations and later clashed with forces who lobbed shells and fired pellets,” they said.
They said the protesters also attacked the house of PDP MLA in Tral, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah with stones. “Forces lobbed shells to disperse the protesters,” they said.
Massive pro-freedom rallies were also taken out in Kareemabad and Kakapora areas of Pulwama.
Pro-freedom rallies were also taken out in Shermal and Nagbal-Imam Sahib areas of Shopian district.
Protests and clashes were also reported from Khudwani village of Qaimoh area in Kulgam district.
Meanwhile, forces fired teargas shells on protesters participating in another rally that was taken out after Friday prayers in Dooru area of Anantnag district. Locals told Kashmir Post that forces fired teargas shells and one of the shells landed inside the house of Muhammad Ashraf Hajam. “The tear smoke engulfed the whole house and the inmates fell unconscious and were shifted to Sub-district hospital (SDH) Dooru.”
A massive pro-freedom protest rally was also held in Shangus area of Anantnag district after Friday prayers. The rally was led by Tehreek-e-Hurriyat district president Anantnag, Mir Hafizullah. It was taken out from Jamia Masjid up to Main Market. People were raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Reports said a school went up in flames in a mysterious fire incident at Watoo, Aharbal in Kulgam. A single-storey building of government middle school Watoo was gutted in the incident at around 10.30 pm on Thursday. Reports said protests erupted at Tarigam village of Kulgam district. Late evening reports said forces allegedly resorted to aerial firing in Malangpora, Awantipora. Reports said forces allegedly damaged scores of vehicles.

North Kashmir
A second major crackdown was conducted in a week in old town Baramulla by police, CRPF and Army. At least seven youth were arrested. In the first crackdown, at least 44 people were detained.
According to reports, forces and police this morning cordoned off some areas of old town Baramulla including Al-Mustafa Colony, Faqir Wani and Drangbal areas and launched a door-to-door search operation. As per police sources, seven youths were detained on charges of stone-pelting.
Meanwhile, Baramulla police foiled a joint Friday congregation at Ushkara area on Friday. 25 people which includes imams of several mosques and prominent citizens of the area were arrested, reports said. “In the evening, they were released,” they said.
The locals alleged that police damaged windowpanes of some residential houses. Later, scores of local residents moved to police station Baramulla and demanded immediate release of arrested persons. In old town Baramulla, joint Friday prayers were offered at Qadeem Eidgah Baramulla, in which thousands of people participated. Later a huge pro-freedom protest march was taken out. Police from across the bridge lobbed several teargas shells towards the marchers, resulting in brief clashes between youth and police. Meanwhile in Palhallan area of Baramulla district, a joint Friday congregation was held at Goshbugh in which thousands of people participated. Later a freedom protest march was taken out from the area, but as protesters tried to march towards highway, they were prevented by police, triggering clashes which continued for some time. A pro-freedom rally was organised in Ajas village in Bandipora district which started from Jamia Masjid Ajas and later reached main chowk amid pro-freedom slogans.
Residents of Matipora, Chimpezpora and Bazipora participated in the rally. The rally later culminated peacefully. Similar rallies were held in Aloosa, Ashtengoo, and Kehnusa villages. Reports said mild clashes erupted in Kaloosa and Nowpara areas of the district while a youth was allegedly beaten to pulp by CRPF in Nowpora area. Reports of a freedom rally poured in from Trehgam area of Kupwara district.
Reports said protesters resorted to stone pelting in Chichilora village on Srinagar-Gulmarg road after Friday prayers. Forces resorted to teargas shelling. Residents of Chichlora alleged forces damaged public property of residential houses

Central Kashmir
Heavy deployment of forces was made in major towns to thwart any protests in view of Friday. Clashes erupted between protesters and forces in Kangan area of Ganderbal district after Friday prayers. Reports said forces used tear smoke shells to disperse stone-pelting protesters. Reports also said police arrested two youth from Chenar area of Kangan for allegedly being involved in stone pelting incidents in the area. They said one youth was also arrested from Beehama area. Clashes were reported from various parts of Budgam district as well.

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