‘Arrest Drive’ intensifies amid fresh clashes across Kashmir

• Curbs imposed in Parimpora after 2 ‘Sumo’ vehicles set ablaze
• 35 youth detained in Old Town Baramulla during 12-hour ‘crackdown’ by forces
• 2 Class 10 students, a Class 6 student detained in Parimpora, Anantnag areas
• 60 ‘trouble-mongers’ arrested in 24 hours: Police

Clashes broke out in various parts of Kashmir, including the summer capital Srinagar, on Monday after police and other forces intensified their “drive” to arrest youth allegedly involved in street protests and stone-pelting, even as complete shutdown was observed across the Valley for the 101st consecutive day.
Clashes broke out in Parimpora area on Srinagar outskirts after unidentified youth set ablaze to two passenger ‘Sumo’ vehicles in the middle of the road. The incident happened early in the morning after masked youth surrounded two Sumo vehicles ferrying passengers, they said. “As the vehicles crossed Qamarwari Chowk, youth stopped them and asked passengers to step out, and later set the vehicles on fire,” they said.

Soon after the incident, police reached the spot and clashes broke out in the area after youth hurled stones at forces personnel, reports and witnesses said. And as the clashes intensified, strict curbs were imposed in Qamarwari and Parimpora areas. Witnesses said at least seven youth jumped into river Jhelum after being chased by the forces. They later managed to swim up to the banks safely, they said.
Residents of Gulshan Chowk at Parimpora said forces raided many residential houses and detained seven youth including two students of Class 10th. Kashmir Post office received many calls from residents of Parimpora stating that at least 15 youth were detained by police on charges of stone-pelting.
Witnesses said clashes broke out in old Srinagar areas after youth took to streets. Stone-pelting was witnessed at Nowhatta, Gojwara, Khanyar and Saraf Kadal areas. Srinagar markets including the main markets at Lal Chowk opened after 5 pm on the relaxation call given by joint resistance leadership.

‘Longest Crackdown’ In Baramulla
Reports from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district said at least 35 youth were detained during “the longest-ever joint search operation-cum-crackdown” by police, army and CRPF at Old Town.
They said Baramulla police along with army and CRPF personnel conducted one of the biggest search operations in two decades in the Old Town area. The operation lasted for about 12 hours during which 35 youths were arrested, witnesses said. Though locals said the operation was aimed to arrest stone-pelters and organizers of freedom rallies, police claimed it was “carried out to flush out some militants after information about their presence in the area.”
“Based on specific information about the presence of three foreign militants in the area, we launched a search operation this morning. During the operation, several youth, on the speculation of working as sleeper cells for militants, were arrested,” said Imtiyaz Hussain, Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla. He said some youth were later released and those who are still in custody will be released “if found innocent.” According to reports, at around 3 am on Sunday, police accompanied by army and CRPF, cordoned off entire Old Town. The locals were directed not to step out of their houses. “We were not allowed to come out of our house and after seeing every nook and corner of Old Town cordoned off, we realized it is a massive search operation or crackdown,” said Bashir Ahmad of Tawheed Gunj Baramulla. During the operation, door-to-door searches was carried out by the forces. The locals alleged that the forces broke windowpanes of several houses and windshields of some vehicles parked in the area.
“During the crackdown, police was looking for some stone-pelters and in houses where they were not present, the forces resorted to vandalism without any provocation,” locals alleged.
Reports from South Kashmir said forces allegedly went berserk in a Pulwama village, destroying property and beating up inmates. Forces in Larev-Kakapora in Pulwama district barged into houses, smashed windowpanes and ransacked household goods, including television sets, refrigerators and washing machines, apart from parked vehicles, they said
“The forces also beat up inmates mercilessly with gun-butts and bamboo sticks, injuring many,” locals said.
Meanwhile, unknown persons set ablaze a Tata sumo vehicle in a workshop in Tengpora Pulwama. A massive pro-freedom rally was held in Aadibal village in the district. “People were seen shouting pro-freedom slogans,” reports said. Two youth were arrested by police during a night raid in Tahab area of Pulwama.
Reports from Samboora area of Pulwama said four youth sustained injuries after forces fired on protestors during raids. Forces had conducted raids in the area triggering protests.
On Monday evening, reports said police arrested a 12-year-old student Murtaza son of Shabir Ahmad Misgar of Bakshiabad Anantnag and lodged him at police station Saddar. Murtaza, according to witnesses, is a Class 6th student.

Police Version
According to a statement issued by Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation across Kashmir remained largely peaceful. “Normal movement of traffic was seen with shops open and vendors dotting the roads, lanes and by-lanes across Kashmir. In the morning some miscreants in their attempt to disrupt the normal flow of traffic set on fire two vehicles near Fruit Mandi Srinagar,” the statement read. “Taking cognizance of the crime police registered a case under FIR No 231/2016 in police station Parimpora and started investigation. Six miscreants involved in this crime have been identified and a manhunt has been launched to arrest them.”
Meanwhile, the statement said “in its continuous drive against the trouble-mongers police arrested 60 individual involved in disrupting public order in different parts of the valley.”