Youth throw stones at paramilitary troops during a protest in Srinagar against the killing of four villagers.
Srinagar: Curfew was lifted here yesterday, but sporadic protests and a shutdown called by separatists marred normal life in the city. More than 25 people were injured in clashes across Kashmir Valley.
Authorities lifted curfew restrictions in Srinagar and other areas of Kashmir Valley yesterday, but markets and businesses remained shut and public transport was not available. The separatists had called a shutdown to protest the killing of four people by paramilitary forces in Gool village of Ramban district on Thursday.
A police statement issued last evening said: “The situation remained under control throughout Kashmir Valley today. Some stone-pelting incidents were reported from Papchan, Naidkhai, Gulshan Chowk in Bandipora, Khanpora in Baramulla, and a couple of places in downtown and uptown Srinagar.”
“The deployments exercised maximum restraint. Eight policemen, eight CRPF men and eight civilians were injured. All the injured are stable.”
A youth sustained a pellet injury in Baramulla town during clashes yesterday. A senior police officer said: “He was taken to hospital and doctors have described his condition as out of danger.”
Tension gripped Saloora village in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district in the morning when rumours spread that a copy of the Holy Quran had been desecrated.
As people started protesting the alleged desecration, police reached the village.
Preliminary investigations revealed that some anti-social youths in the village had been up to mischief to instigate trouble.
“The miscreants who spread the rumours have been identified. They will soon be arrested and brought to justice,” a senior police officer said.
Wild rumours also did the rounds of Srinagar that some youths injured in clashes with security forces had died.
To scotch the rumours, police issued another statement which said: “Certain people are trying hard to vitiate the atmosphere by spreading rumours.”
Rumours of a young boy being killed in Sumbal were floated on social networking site Facebook by fake identity holders. Reportedly, one person with a Facebook account under the name Syed Naseem posted an update about the death of a youth in Safa Pora, which turned out to be untrue.
The post was later removed.
“All these Facebook miscreants are being identified and action would be taken against them,” the police statement said.
IANS
