Fresh protests in Kashmir's Handwara as restrictions lifted briefly
Srinagar: Fresh protests broke out in Handwara and neighbouring areas of Kupwara district in north Kashmir on Monday, prompting authorities to reimpose curfew-like restrictions which were relaxed for a few hours this morning, while mobile internet services have been restored in the Valley.
Authorities lifted the restrictions on movement of people for three hours in Kupwara town in the district and the relaxation was further extended as there was no report of any untoward incident there, a police official said.
The twin towns of Handwara and Kupwara had been rocked by violent protests that left five persons dead since last Tuesday. After a lull on Sunday, fresh protests broke out today in Handwara, Kralgund and Trehgam areas.
Though curfew was lifted from other areas on Saturday night, the restrictions continued to be in force in Handwara and its neighbourhood for another day.
"Restrictions have been imposed again in Handwara, Kralgund and Trehgam areas of Kupwara district following violent protests," a police official said.
Read: Kashmir limps back to normalcy; mobile internet restored, restriction lifted
Around 150 youths started pelting stones in Handwara town as authorities relaxed the restrictions for three hours from 8 - 11 am, the official said.
"The protesters were chased away and there was no damage done in the incident," he added.
Protestors were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. When confronted by police, they started stone pelting at the security forces. Police fired teargas canisters to disperse irate crowds and one person was injured in fresh protests.
Mobile internet services, which were snapped in the Valley following violent protests over the alleged molestation of a girl by an army soldier on Tuesday, were restored a little past midnight as there was no major incident of protest or violence yesterday, an official said today.
Three persons including a woman were killed in firing by security forces on protesters on Tuesday while two more persons were killed in separate security forces action against violent protestors on Wednesday at Drugmulla and on Friday at Nathnusa. Over 230 people, mostly policemen, have been injured in the protests.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed the youth to maintain peace and calm in the Valley. Mufti said, “I make a fervent appeal to youth to come forward and help my government in its sincere effort to restore peace in the state.”
Handwara MLA and social welfare minister, Sajad Gani Lone, took to Facebook to deny any fresh casualties in the town. “Rumours about fatalities in Handwara totally baseless and untrue,” he wrote.
