Srinagar, October 21: Amid complete lockdown and curfew in Srinagar areas, protests and clashes erupted across Kashmir Valley on Fridaywhile as a youth in Nasrullahpora area of Budgam district died of cardiac arrest during anti-India clashes.
Police sources told GNS that the youth namely Junaid Ahmad Mir, son of Fateh Mir, resident of Nasrullahpora collapsed when clashes were underway in the area and police was firing teargas towards stone-throwers. The sources said that the youth was immediately rushed to SKIMS JVC where he expired. The death of the youth triggered more protests in Nasrullahpora.
A police spokesman said in a statement issued here: “Today afternoon one person namely Junaid Ahmad Mir son of Fateh Mir resident of Nasrullah Pora Budgam was brought to JVC Bemina, Srinagar where the doctors declared him brought dead. As per doctors prima facie he has died of cardiac arrest as there are no marks of any injury on his body,” he said.
Here in summer capital, the authorities imposed curfew in five police station areas of Srinagar including MR Gunj, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Nowhatta and hundreds of police and CRPF men remained deployed. The areas like Habba Kadal and Maisuma were also under thick security blanket.
The authorities for the 15th consecutive week disallowed Friday prayers at historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. According to locals, the force personnel deployed at Nowhatta and in adjoining areas showed sticks to all those who tried to come out of their houses for offering prayers.
Meanwhile, protest and clashes erupted at scores of places in Kashmir Valley during which police used teargas, pepper gas and pellets to disperse the protesters, resulting in injuries to over a dozen people. The summer capital areas including Barzulla, Rawalpora, Sabzi Mandi Soura, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Pamposh Colony Noorbagh witnessed massive protests and clashes after Friday prayers.
According to eyewitnesses, scores of youths clashed with government forces at all these places during which forces resorted to massive teargas and pellet firing. At Barzulla, several youth were arrested by police during clashes. At evening, clashes also erupted in many areas of Old City including Nowhatta and Gojwara.
Restrictions were also imposed in other major towns of central, south and north Kashmir. As per reports, the protests after Friday prayers also erupted in all other districts of Valley. Reports of clashes poured in from Newa, Tahab, Koil, Dallipora in Pulwama, Sopore, Palhalan and Old Town in Baramulla, Bandipora, Kangan in Ganderbal and in Anantnag districts. Several persons sustained injuries during these clashes. Besides, peaceful processions were also taken from several areas of Valley including Kareemabad in Pulwama.
Meanwhile, a search and cordon operation was again carried out by army and police’s SOG in Drangbul and adjoining localities of Old Town Baramulla today. During the operation, the forces carried out searches of houses as they were suspected presence of militants. A police official said few persons were detained during the searches but refused divulge further details.
According to the police spokesman, barring a few stray incidents of stone pelting, situation across the valley remained by and large peaceful today till filling of this report. “As a preventive measure restrictions were imposed in some parts of Srinagar,” he said.
Meanwhile, continuing its sustained drive against miscreants/hooligans found involved in disrupting public order in different parts of the valley, police has arrested 72 more such people during past 24 hours.(GNS)