Valley tense on 111th day of Shutdown, Ransacking, Aristocracy, Arrest ‘Drive’ On

• Hurriyat (M) says Jamia Masjid areas ‘sealed’ to prevent public march
• Unknown persons damage vehicles in Srinagar
• Another school goes up in flames in Budgam
• Police drive to arrest  ‘stone-pelters’ reaches Jammu
• 3 Arrested during nocturnal raids in Tangmarg
• JK Bank’s Pampore branch forced to close

Amid complete shutdown, protests and clashes were reported from various parts of Kashmir on Thursday while police claimed to have arrested two “wanted stone-pelters” from Jammu region in its “drive against trouble-mongers.” Two vehicles, a truck and an auto-rickshaw sustained damage in two separate fire incidents while a government school in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district suffered intense damage during a mysterious blaze, reports said.

South Kashmir
Violent clashes erupted in Jablipora village of Bijbehara in Anantnag district after forces conducted raids and allegedly vandalized houses there. A pro-freedom rally was also held in Gadiseer village of Bijbehara.
Reports said forces conducted raids in Jablipora village this morning and were looking for a tent owner who had been allegedly giving his tents on rent to people for freedom-cum-unity conferences organized in the area in the past three months.
“The forces barged into his house and ransacked goods,” locals alleged. They said forces later vandalized property of other houses, triggering massive protests and clashes.
People in Jablipora village alleged continuous harassment by forces.
Clashes also erupted in Karimabad village of Pulwama district. “People had placed barricades on Newa-Karimabad road and as police arrived to clear it, clashes erupted,” reports said. They said at least three youth were rounded up by forces.
Forces on Wednesday evening allegedly ran amok in Sherabad village of Tral, smashed windowpanes of houses and damaged about a dozen vehicles parked in the vicinity. Meanwhile, a pro-freedom rally led by Muslim League (ML) district president Anantnag, Sabzar Ahmad Dar, was held in Gadiseer village of Bijbehara.
Forces have allegedly unleashed terror in Sherabad Tral where six residential houses and six vehicles were damaged by them. Locals alleged that forces vandalized property worth millions of rupees by hurling stones on houses and smashing vehicles parked on roads. The incident took place late Wednesday evening after some unknown persons hurled stones on a military patrolling vehicle that was on its way from Awantipora to Tral, a witness told Kashmir Post.
“Forces entered our locality when we were inside our houses and started pelting stones,” he said.

Srinagar
Reports said a truck was torched in Parimpora locality while an auto-rickshaw was set ablaze in Saida Kadal.
Deputy Inspector General of police (Central Kashmir Range), Ghulam Hassan Bhat said a case has been registered in this regard and investigation is going on.

Arrest ‘Drive’ ON
Police claimed to have arrested two ‘hard core stone-pelters’ allegedly involved in many stone-pelting and arson cases.
In a statement issued here, police said a special team of Srinagar police arrested two hardcore stone-pelters Humair alias Nelcha and Zahid Rasool Shiekh of Nowhatta from Jammu. Police alleged the duo is involved in many stone pelting cases as also in the cases of arson.
“Both of them were evading arrest. They are involved in case FIR Nos 43/2016 under Section 341, 435 RPC at Police Station Khanyar, 14/2010, 85/2011, 74/2012, 96/2015, 107/2016 under section 307, 148, 149, 336, 435, 427 RPC, 120 B of Police Station Nowhatta,” police said.

North Kashmir
At least three persons allegedly involved in pro-freedom protests were arrested during nocturnal raids by forces in Tangmarg area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. They were identified as Khursheed Ahmad Ganaie, son of Abdul Ahad, Muhammad Ayoub Ganaie son of Ghulam Qadir and Mudasir Ahmad Ganaie son of Abdul Rashid—all residents of Chachiloora.
Meanwhile, a shopkeeper identified as Abdul Hameed Wani, resident of Magam was also arrested by the forces. However, locals staged protests during which they blocked the Srinagar-Gulmarg highway to demand immediate release of the shopkeeper.
Reports said that unknown persons hurled a petrol bomb on vendors in North Kashmir’s Sopore town. Two masked persons who were riding a motorbike stopped near sub-district hospital Sopore where scores of vendors had set their carts. “The petrol bomb landed on a cart thus setting ablaze clothes meant for sale,” witnesses said.

Central Kashmir
Reports said a mysterious fire engulfed a government middle school Habber in Khag area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The five-room school suffered intense damage. Reports said local youth tried their best to douse the flames, but failed. The school was partially functional during the ongoing uprising.
Meanwhile, reports said nocturnal raids triggered protests in Beerwah and Chudirbagh Seban after locals alleged vandalism of property by forces. At least four youth were detained during the raids, locals said.

Police Version
“The situation across the valley remained normal, although a minor stone pelting incident was reported from Pulwama. Muharram processions were taken out in Srinagar, Budgam and Baramulla. For the hassle free movement of the traffic, adequate deployment of police and forces was made at vulnerable points in Srinagar city, in main towns as also on the roads, lanes and by-lanes connecting different places. Muhammad Lateef Bhat resident of Khawaja Pora Saida Pora Rainawari reported in Police Station Rainawari that his auto bearing registration number JK01H-3931 was set on fire by some unknown men late last night. The auto was parked outside his residence. Srinagar police has registered a case in this regard. In Sopore, some unknown miscreants hurled a petrol bomb near Iqbal market Sopore. However, no loss of life or injury was reported in this incident. Police has taken cognizance. In Pulwama some miscreants pelted stones on police and security force deployment at Karimabad. They were chased away,” a police spokesman said in a statement.

‘Jamia Masjid Turns Into Garrison’
Hurriyat Conference(M) Thursday accused the government of turning areas around historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta area into a garrison to foil congregational Friday prayers there.
“Following the announcement by the resistance leadership for offering Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid on October 28, areas around the masjid have been sealed amid heavy presence of forces,” a Hurriyat spokesman said in a statement.
“Curfew and undeclared curfew imposed by the government, restrictions, crackdown, arrests and house arrests, arbitrary arrest spree of resistance leaders and youth, torture and beating up of people, state terrorism, interference in religious rights, and violation of human rights are not going to affect our resolve for freedom,” he said.
Urging people to participate in large numbers in the Friday congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid here on October 28, the spokesman said: “Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will proceed towards Jamia Masjid to offer Friday prayers with the people.”