Valley starts ringing again, Protests erupts after govt lifts curfew

• Mobile network restored (Post Paid ONLY)
• Man dies after falling from scooty in Old City
• Protest march intercepted, tear gassed at Jehangir Chowk

Major mobile network (Only Postpaid) restored across valley after 13 days of silence, with few hiccups.”The decision was taken to ensure that the common man is not put to inconvenience. The decision to suspend mobile phone services for the last 20 days was taken to prevent anti-social elements from spreading rumours,” a senior officer of the provincial administration said here.
“As the situation has started improving, we have decided to restore mobile phone services,” the officer said.
Internet services on mobile phones, however, continued to remain suspended in the valley.
The same were restored in the Jammu region of the state on Tuesday.
For the last 20 days, only post paid mobile phones provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) worked in the Valley, but these also did not have internet facility.
Authorities here said the decision on restoration of internet facility on mo bile phones will be taken within the next two to three days.
Tension prevailed in Kashmir on Tuesday even as authorities lifted the curfew across the valley after 17 days and the separatist leaders had announced afternoon relaxation in the shutdown. Most parts of Valley continued to observe shutdown amid violent clashes at some places.
Meanwhile, a 61-year-old man died in a road accident in the old city when he was reportedly caught in clashes between protesters and forces. Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Kraleteng (Rajouri Kadal) locality of old city, lost control of his scooty and suffered head injuries. He was rushed to SKIMS Soura where he succumbed to his injuries.
Eyewitnesses said Mushtaq fell from the two-wheeler when paramilitary CRPF men fired tear smoke grenade to disperse protesting youth near Eidgah area of the city.
Violent clashes broke out near Jehangir Chowk as hundreds of protesters from old city marched towards Lal Chowk in the afternoon.
Raising pro-freedom slogans and carrying black flags as a mark of protest against the civilian killings, the protesters marched towards commercial hub of the city Lal Chowk via Shaheed Gunj. They were intercepted at Jehangir Chowk by police and CRPF personnel, triggering clashes between the two sides. A thick security cordon was thrown in and around the premises of the nearby civil secretariat as a precautionary measure.
Authorities lifted curfew from all parts of Kashmir, except Anantnag town, after 17 days of unrest in the valley since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
Although the lifting of curfew coincided with the separatist camp suspending the strike after 2.00 pm, most parts of the Valley continued to observe shutdown. The commercial hub of Lal Chowk and adjoining areas remained closed even after 2.00 pm while only groceries and shops selling essentials were opened in other parts of the Valley.
Sources said dozens of people were injured in clashes soon after curfew was lifted. Clashes were going on in several areas of the city when reports last came in. Nine of the injured were rushed to SMHS hospital for treatment. In some areas, the lanes and by-lanes were blocked by protestors with heavy wooden logs, rocks and burning tyres.
The areas where protests and clashes were witnessed included Safa Kadal, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Babademb, Gojwara, Habba Kadal, Barbar Shah, Rainawari, Nawab Bazaar, Chatabal areas of the cold city. Clashes were also reported from the uptown localities of Batamaloo, HMT, Humhama, Hyderpora, Chanpora and Nowgam.
At some places, Mosque loudspeakers were used for sloganeering and urging people to come out on streets to register their protest against civilian killings.
In Baramulla and Sopore areas of north Kashmir, some shops were opened in the afternoon. However, the shopkeepers had to close the down and run for safety as groups of youth came out on streets and raised pro-freedom slogans.
Locals said around 145 youth have been picked up by police in the past two weeks. Eyewitnesses said CRPF men deployed in some areas harassed shopkeepers and bystanders and also vandalized some private vehicles parked on the roadside. Clashes were also reported from Krankshivan colony, Hathi Shah Mohala, Khankah Mohalla and Arampora.