Clashes between terrorist supporters and security forces in Kashmir: Death toll rises to 18

July 10, 2016

Srinagar: Kashmir remained on the edge with three more persons, including a cop, getting killed in violence today, raising the death toll to 18, while 200 have been injured even as curfew-like restrictions and suspension of Mobile internet services continued.

In view of the unrest following the killing of Pakistan based terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander Burhan Wani and his associates in Kashmir, Amarnath Yatra also remained suspended for the second day, although some stranded pilgrims were escorted to safety.

In Delhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation in the Valley and spoke to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, assuring her of all possible help.

The state police also urged protesters not to resort to violence, saying it does not bring the right consequences, and that it would like to avoid the killing of the youth.

Even as curfew-like restrictions remained in force, violence was reported from a number of places.

An 18-year-old youth Irfan Ahmad Malik was critically injured in clashes between protestors and security forces at Newa in Pulwama this morning, a police official said.

Irfan was rushed to SMHS hospital here but succumbed to injuries, he said.

An unidentified person was brought to district hospital Pulwama in a critical condition but succumbed to injuries, he said, adding efforts are on to ascertain his identity.

A police driver Feroz Ahmad was killed after a mob pushed his mobile bunker vehicle into river Jhelum at Sangam in Anantnag district, the official said. Efforts were on to fish out the body of the deceased cop.

In another incident, a head constable of police was shot in both legs by militants last night at his residence in Tral area of Pulwama district, the official said.

Three policemen, who went missing after a large mob attacked a police station in Damhal Hanjipora yesterday, are still untraceable, state Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said.

Three youth were injured in security forces firing when a mob attacked a police post in Achabal area of Anantnag district with stones, the official said.

Another youth was injured when he was hit by firearm in Pampore town on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway today.

At least six other persons were hospitalised with minor injuries at various places in south Kashmir, which as seen widespread protests following the killing of Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area on Friday.

The official said four persons who were injured in the violent clashes yesterday succumbed to injuries during the night.

As per consolidated information available now, more than 200 persons including 96 security personnel were injured in the day long clashes during which the mobs set on fire three police installations, three civil administration offices, the house of a PDP MLA, several vehicles and targeted a BJP office.

The Chief Minister, while appealing for calm, has urged the Centre to reach out to the people of the state to resolve the issues confronting them through reconciliation efforts on internal as well as external front for ending the violence that has left behind a trail of death and destruction.

“The pain of Kashmiris has reached a level where the hope of peace is sure to gain substantial local support if tangible confidence building measures are taken to address the issues concerning the state and its people,” Mehbooba said in a statement issued last night.

She said the people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their age, gender, status or the political affiliation, have been suffering the terrible consequences of the pernicious turmoil over the last more than two decades.

“They now want peace and stability to take roots, and even within the prevailing circumstances there lies an opportunity to consolidate the peace efforts, if substantial steps are taken in the right direction to positively impact the ground situation,” she said.

She stressed the urgency for reviving the peace and reconciliation initiatives, both on the internal and external fronts.

Seeking people’s cooperation in stabilising peace, she said the government is responsive to the people’s needs and concerned about their problems and is working judiciously and in a transparent manner to fulfil their aspirations and expectations.

While reacting to the civilian deaths in security forces’ firing yesterday, Mehbooba had asked security forces to follow the standard operating procedures for crowd control and avoid disproportionate use of force.

Urging for calm, Mehbooba sought people’s cooperation in restoration of normalcy in the Valley.

Violence only brings miseries to the people and tragedies for the victim families, she said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people, especially the youth not to fall prey to the machinations of the vested interests, who play politics over the bodies of Kashmiris.

Normal life remained paralysed across Kashmir due to strike called by separatist groups to protest the civilian killings even as curfew-like restrictions continued in parts of the valley as a precautionary measure for the second day.

Mobile internet services across Kashmir remained suspended for the second day while mobile telephony was also snapped in south Kashmir areas.

The internal communication of the Police department has been badly affected as the wireless communication system, damaged during the 2014 floods, has not been fully restored, a police official said on condition of anonymity.

“We were using mobile telephones for communication but that is not working at the moment,” he added.

The separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continue to be under house arrest while Mohammad Yasin Malik is also under preventive detention.

Updates:

Three policemen injured in militant attack

Srinagar: Three policemen were injured in a militant attack on Superintendent of Police of Shopian district in Kashmir but the IPS officer escaped unhurt.

Militants opened firing on Superintendent of Police Shopian Shailendra Mishra near his office and followed it by hurling a hand grenade, a police officer said.

He said the grenade landed on an escort vehicle, resulting in injuries to three policemen.

However, the IPS officer escaped the attack unhurt, the officer added.

CRPF jawan injured in grenade attack

Srinagar: One CRPF jawan was today injured in a grenade attack by suspected militants in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said.

The ultras hurled two hand grenades on a deployment of CRPF personnel at Murran chowk in Pulwama, a police official said.

He said while one grenade exploded, the other failed to explode.

“One CRPF jawan was injured in the explosion,” he added.

AI waives cancellation, rescheduling charge on Kashmir flights

Air India today said it will not charge any ticket cancellation or rescheduling fee for travel to and from Kashmir, which has been rocked by violence.

Air India has decided to waive cancellation and no-show charges from the customers who had booked their flights to or from Srinagar due to the prevalent situation in Kashmir, an Air India spokesperson said here.

The spokesperson also said that the airline will also not charge any amount for the rescheduling of pre-booked flights.

The relaxed norms would be applicable for both domestic and international flights to and from Srinagar on tickets booked before July 9 for travel up to July 11.

At present, all domestic airlines charge a heavy fee of up to Rs 2,000 from fliers for a ticket cancellation and rescheduling.

Meanwhile, Jet Airways has also announced that it would re-book the tickets of its customers without any charges due to the current situation in the valley.

“Due to the current unrest situation prevailing in Srinagar, we have been informed by DGCA to allow guests to rebook their tickets without charges,” Jet Airways spokesperson said.

18 people have been killed and 200 injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel following the killing of Hizb militant Burhan Wani in an encounter on Friday.

J-K Govt appeals to Hurriyat, mainstream parties

Jammu and Kashmir government today appealed to separatist Hurriyat Conference, besides mainstream parties, to assist in its efforts towards restoring normalcy in the state, which has been rocked by violent protests following the killing of terror outfit Hizbul’s militant commander Burhan Wani.

“The cabinet appealed to all political forces who have expressed concern for people’s lives — be it National Conference, Congress, CPI(M) or other components of the mainstream or those people who are not in the mainstream…

those who are really concerned as much we are concerned which includes leaders from the Hurriyat….

“We appeal to them that if they want peace in the state and steps taken by government for saving lives of people succeed, we need their support also,” Education Minister Naeem Akhtar.

Akhtar, who is also the government spokesman, was briefing the media about the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti where the situation in Kashmir Valley was reviewed.

Chief Secretary B R Sharma and Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar briefed the cabinet.

Akhtar said the Cabinet expressed anguish on the deterioration of the situation which resulted in the death of some youths.

“It was unfortunate and regrettable development,” he said, adding there were a number of attacks on police stations and security force camps which forced the law enforcement agencies to use weapons.

“If you see, how many police stations were set ablaze and how many camps were tried to be overrun…. As a society, we should not take protests — whether required or not — to a level where the forces are forced to use their weapons,” he said.

He, however, added that if there was any instance of disproportionate use of force, it will be investigated.

“We will go to the bottom of it and find out why it happened,” he said, cautioning people not to become tools in the machinations of instigators of violence.

The minister said the parents of young children also have a responsibility to keep an eye on their wards.

“If you see the footages you have, small kids who do not know why but are still having stones in their hands,” he said.

The minister said if any of the injured requires to be taken out of the state for treatment, the state government will bear the expenses.

The Education Minister left the press conference after a reporter asked if the Mehbooba government will quit as the ruling PDP had made a similar demand when Omar Abdullah was the chief minister during the 2010 summer agitation in the Valley that left 120 persons dead.

Earlier, referring to the violence, the minister said that such a situation has developed in the past as well.

“Properties have been damaged. But loss of property can be compensated. The lives lost cannot be compensated.

“Government is siezed of its responsibilities. It was resolved (in the cabinet) that all steps will be taken for ensuring safety of life and property of the people. It was also resolved that forces exercise maximum restraint and try to avoid collateral damage,” he added.

Akhtar also warned people against the designs of people with vested interests.

“Often we have seen that people come out (on roads) being overcome by emotions but few instigators indulge in violence by hurling a petrol bomb or stones. The youth then become victims of the reaction to the action (of instigators),” he said.

He dismissed media reports about shortage of blood or medicines in government hospitals.

“There is no shortage of blood or medicines in hospitals,” he said

He said efforts were on arrange additional flights for tourists stranded in the Valley while arrangements are afoot to ensure their safe movement to the airport.

Akhtar said the Amarnath Yatra was still suspended from Jammu.

“We are making efforts to resume it as soon as possible,” he added.

Would like to avoid killing of youth, says J&K Police

As unrest continued in Kashmir, the state police today said it would like to avoid the killing of the youth and urged protesters not to resort to violence, saying it does not bring the right consequences.

Additional Director General of Police (CID) S M Sahai again urged people to restrain their youngsters from participating in the protests that have erupted in the aftermath of the killing of Pakistan based anti-Indian terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen’s terrorist commander Burhan Wani on Friday.

“The situation as of now is better than yesterday. At some places, people have come out and we are dealing with it. We would like to control the situation to avoid the killings of the youth,” he said.

Insisting that that violence does not bring the right consequences, Sahai urged people to restrain youngsters from violent protests and confine them to homes.

“Whether they have to protest or not, but they should not resort to violence.It does not have right consequences,” he said as the toll in the clashes since yesterday rose to 16 dead and over 200 injured.

Sahai defended the use of force which resulted in civilian casualties, saying the security posts were attacked by the unruly mobs.

“Militants fired upon security personnel from among the crowd. Weapon-snatching was also reported. Some of our personnel were injured,” the police official said.

He admitted that police had been unable to anticipate the areas of trouble after the killing of the militant commander.

“We admit that our focus was not on some areas. We are are seeing how it happened,” he said.

“We faced trouble from the outline areas. Government buildings, police stations, and army camps were attacked in the areas we least expected trouble,” he said, adding the areas police expected trouble were put under control.

Around 96 security personnel were injured in the clashes.

Earlier:Clashes between terrorist supporters and security forces in Kashmir: Death toll rises to 16

Srinagar: A youth was today killed in fresh clashes between locals, protesting the gunning down of Hizbul Mujhaideen terrorist Burhan Wani, and security forces in Pulwama district, taking the death toll to 16 in the violence which also left 200 people injured.

An 18-year-old youth was critically injured in clashes between pro-terrorist mobs of locals and security forces at Newa in Pulwama this morning, a police official said.

Irfan Ahmad Malik was rushed to SMHS hospital here but succumbed to his injuries, he said.

Pro-terrorist mobs in Kashmir have injured nearly 100 jawans of security forces, looted weapons, torched police and paramilitary posts and attacked government and BJP offices.

Four persons who were injured in the violent clashes yesterday succumbed to injuries during the night, the official said.

Violent protests broke out in most parts of Kashmir — with the south districts of Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam being the worst hit.

As per consolidated information available now, more than 200 persons, including 96 security personnel, were injured in the day long clashes during which the mobs set on fire three police installations, three civil administration offices, the house of a PDP MLA, several vehicles and targeted a BJP office.

Meanwhile, curfew-like restrictions continued in parts of Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure for the second day today.

Normal life across Valley remained paralysed due to a strike called by separatist groups to protest the killings.

Pro-Pakistan Kashmiri Muslims, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, continue to be under house arrest while Mohammad Yasin Malik is also under preventive detention.

Amarnath Yatra, which was suspended from Jammu yesterday, also remained suspended.

Wani, a commander of Pakistan based terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, and two others were killed on Friday when security forces retaliated after being fired upon by the trio from a house in which they were hiding.

Mobile internet services were suspended and and a curfew was imposed across the Valley to contain the fallout of Wani’s killing.

Meanwhile in a statement issued here late last night, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti urged the Centre to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to resolve the issues confronting the state through reconciliation efforts on internal as well as external front for ending the violence that has left behind a trail of death and destruction.

The pain of Kashmiris has reached a level where the hope of peace is sure to gain substantial local support if tangible confidence building measures are taken to address the issues concerning the state and its people, the Chief Minister said.

Mehbooba said the people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their age, gender, status or the political affiliation, have been suffering the terrible consequences of the pernicious turmoil over the last more than two decades.

They now want peace and stability to take roots, and even within the prevailing circumstances there lies an opportunity to consolidate the peace efforts, if substantial steps are taken in the right direction to positively impact the ground situation, she said.

The Chief Minister stressed on the need and urgency for reviving the peace and reconciliation initiatives, both on the internal and external fronts.

Seeking people’s cooperation in stabilising peace, Mehbooba said the Government is responsive to the people’s needs and concerned about their problems and is working judiciously and in a transparent manner to fulfil their aspirations and expectations.

Flagging the problem of unemployment as a matter of grave concern, she said every section of the society including individuals, institutions and organisations, have to be brought together in a spirit of creative enterprise to widen the economic and employment space for the State’s youth and channelise their energies productively.

“Disproportionate use of force for crowd control results in loss of precious lives and grave injuries which should be avoided at all costs,” she said asking the police and the paramilitary forces to use Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) while dealing with protesters to avoid loss of precious human lives or injuries.

Urging for calm, Mehbooba sought people’s cooperation in restoration of normalcy in the Valley.

Violence only brings miseries to the people and tragedies for the victim families, she said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people, especially the youth not to fall prey to the machinations of the vested interests, who play politics over the bodies of Kashmiris.

Restrictions, strike disrupt normal life in Kashmir

Srinagar: Normal life was hit for the second day today in Kashmir Valley due to curfew-like restrictions and strike following the killing of Pakistan based terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen commander terrorist Burhan Wani.

The restrictions have been imposed in most of Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure.

Restrictions have been imposed in most areas of Srinagar city and four districts of south Kashmir, officials said.

They said the decision to impose restrictions was taken to maintain law and order in the Valley.Yesterday, the restrictions were imposed only in some parts of Srinagar, Pulwama and Anantnag districts.

Meanwhile, the separatist-sponsored strike, which was extended for two more days yesterday, also affected normal life in the Valley.

Shops, private offices, business establishments and petrol pumps were shut, while government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance, the officials said.

They said public transport was completely off the roads, while cars and auto-rickshaws were seen plying at few places where there were no restrictions.

Educational institutions in the Valley were closed on account of the ongoing summer vacations.

The separatist groups yesterday extended the strike to protest the killings of civilians in alleged firing by security forces.

Meanwhile, Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) have postponed the examinations due to the prevailing situation in the Valley.

“IUST has also postponed all the examinations scheduled for July 11 and 12. New dates will be notified separately,” an official of the University said.

The Board of School Education (Kashmir division) has postponed the entire Examination of Class 11 regular (term Ist) 2016, a BOSE spokesman said.

He said a revised date sheet on this behalf shall be issued later on.

Amarnath yatra remains suspended for second day from Jammu

Jammu: Amarnath yatra remained suspended for second consecutive day today from Jammu in the wake of the killing of a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir Valley.

“The yatra is suspended for the second consecutive day today from Jammu. No fresh batch of pilgrims has been sent from Jammu,” Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, said.

He, however, said the yatra from the base camps in Kashmir is on.

The yatra was suspended from Jammu yesterday following violence after the killing of Burhan Wani.

Mobile and Internet services also remained suspended in Jammu as a precautionary measure.

1,18,747 pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas.

A state government release said 15,684 yatris paid obeisance at the Amarnath shrine on the 8th day of the pilgrimage.

“The yatra convoy did not proceed from Jammu for the two base camps today because of law and order considerations,” it said.

PTI

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