Stone pelters in Kashmir target civilians; woman dead, 2 injured, Cross-border trade resumes

Srinagar:A woman was today left dead and two persons were injured as stone pelters targeted vehicles which ventured out defying the diktat of separatists.

Two sisters, Fozia (20) and Nadia (18), were hit by an SUV (sports utility vehicle) that was reversing after it came under stone pelting near Rogan Gali at Parimpora area here, a police spokesperson said.

“The two were critically injured in the incident. Both were shifted to hospital where the elder sister succumbed to injuries,” he said.

The stone pelters apparently targeted the SUV as they thought it was an official vehicle.

The spokesperson said a case has been registered and investigation initiated into the incident.

Meanwhile, one person was injured when stone pelters attacked him as he was riding a scooty near Aalie Masjid in Safa Kadal area.

“Furqan Hamid suffered an injury in his head and has been shifted to SKIMS Soura for treatment. His condition is stable,” the spokesperson added.

Kashmir has been hit by unrest since the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, with separatists calling for bandh and asking people to stay indoors except for few hours of relaxation in the evening.

Cross-border trade resumes in Kashmir after 2 months

Srinagar:Cross-border trading resumed today between the divided parts of Kashmir along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route after remaining suspended for nearly two months due to the unrest in the valley.

While a dozen loaded trucks reached Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) in Uri sector from this side, only one truck came from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said.

Trade between the divided parts of Kashmir was suspended on August 4 after Pakistani traders reportedly stayed away from work for a week initially, to protest civilian killings in the valley and express “solidarity with the people of Kashmir”.

Twenty-one items, including eatables, garments and handicrafts, are traded on the twin routes — Srinagar-Muzaffarabad in Kashmir and Poonch-Rawalakote in Jammu – on which around 50 trucks ply for four days a week.

Trade between the divided parts of Kashmir is considered as the second major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) after the launch of historic bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad on April 7, 2005.

Although agreed upon by India and Pakistan in 2004, the trade became a reality on October 21, 2008.

Curfew continues for 3rd day in Kishtwar

Jammu:The curfew imposed in Kishtwar district following a stone pelting incident triggered by arrest of three separatists remained in force for the third day today.

Three separatist leaders in the town were arrested on Saturday night and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for disrupting peace in the district following which some persons resorted to stone pelting prompting the authorities to impose curfew in the district.

The curfew continues for the third day today, but the situation is under control. There is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere, police officials said.

One more person, Asif, was detained by police during a raid last night for disrupting peace in the mountainous district. Three persons were detained on Saturday night for trying to disrupt peace, he said.

More arrests are likely as police have prepared a list of people who can been seen shouting “objectionable and provocative” slogans in some video clips, they said.

The authorities had yesterday relaxed the restrictions for two hours.

PTI