Protests, Clashes, Aristocracy, Ransacking, Arrests continue across Kashmir

• Reports of police highhandedness during night raids continue to pour in
• School partially-damaged in mysterious fire in Budgam
• Clashes in Anantnag, Sopore
• Truck torched at Bijbehara

Normal life continued to remain affected across Kashmir for the 107th straight day of strike called by separatist leadership with police persisting with its valley-wide crackdown against the protesters evoking widespread resentment.
Shops, business establishments and fuel stations remained shut, but opened in the evening as separatists had given a 14-hour relaxation in the shutdown from 5 pm. While there were no curbs on the movement of people, restrictions on assembly of four or more people were in place throughout the Valley with police and paramilitary CRPF men were deployed in strength.
The residents of Ganie Mohalla Barzulla accused the government forces of ransacking household valuables including electronic items like refrigerators, washing machines, television sets and computers during a raid to arrest protesting youth. Locals said around 15 boys were arrested during the raid. They also accused forces of stealing cash and jewelry during the raid. However, police issued a statement refuting the allegations of ransacking private property besides harassing the women in Barzulla locality.
“Some wanted miscreants belong to the Barzulla area. Today morning police went in the locality to arrest them. Some of the locals created a ruckus. However some miscreants were arrested. The authorities refuted the allegation that any damage was caused to the household items etc. The harassment to women is also baseless,” reads the police statement.

Fresh clashes erupted in various parts of Kashmir on Sunday after forces foiled pro-freedom rallies, even as complete shutdown was observed across the Valley for the 107th consecutive day.
Reports said a government high school building suffered partial damage in a mysterious fire incident in Aripanthan area of Magam in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Witnesses said the fire emanated from the school office and was later doused by fire tenders. Reports said clashes also broke out at Aripanthan after which forces resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protesting youth. Clashes broke out at Kawoosa Khalisa area also where three youth sustained pellet injuries, they said. “The injured youth were treated locally,” they said.

An injured youth identified as Suhail Ahmed, a student of Class 11, was detained at Mazhama while being shifted to SDH Magam, witnesses said. Meanwhile, protesters blocked Narbal-Gulmarg road after which mild clashes broke out on the highway. Protests were also held at Shunglipora village of Budgam district.
Reports said two youth identified as Irfan Ahmad Malik and Owais Ahmad Lone of Konmula Kangan were arrested after police raided their residential houses last night.
Reports from South Kashmir said that forces foiled a freedom march at village Chee in Anantnag district by firing dozens of teargas shells. Clashes erupted after police, CRPF men and Army placed barricades at various points to prevent people from reaching Chee. Two people sustained injuries in the clashes, reports said. The rally, however, still took place.

In Karimabad area of Pulwama, a candlelight protest was held in the evening amid pro-freedom sloganeering. Protestors also blocked the Newa-Pakharpora road. Late evening reports said intense clashes broke out in Bijbehara town in Anantnag after which a truck was torched on highway near Pazalpora.
Reports said clashes broke out in Dangerpora village of Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Barmaulla district after forces foil a freedom march. The call for march to residences of local MLAs was given by joint resistance leadership. Soon after the rally started, Police and army raided the venue and fired many teargas shells. Dangerpora is native place of sitting MLA, Haji Abdur Rashid Dar.
Reports from Srinagar said protests were held in Barzulla area against the alleged vandalism during a nocturnal raid by forces while protests against detention of youth and atrocities were also staged at Maloora on Srinagar outskirts. Meanwhile, Sunday market opened in City Centre Lal Chowk and witnessed a good rush of customers. Shops also opened after 5 pm on the relaxation call given by the joint resistance leadership.

#Protests, #Clashes, #Aristocracy, #Ransacking, #Arrests