Srinagar: Protests by slogan-chanting crowds broke out on Friday afternoon in Srinagar and some other towns of Kashmir and fresh clashes were reported at places between stone-pelting youth and police. Fresh unrest brewed in the Valley even as the authorities re-imposed curfew in most parts of the Valley at dawn to hold back a planned rally at Srinagar’s grand mosque.
Separatists had called for ‘Jamia Masjid Chalo’ and asked people to converge in large numbers at the historic place of worship in the heart of central Srinagar for a memorial service for over 50 people killed in security forces’ firings and other actions in their attempts to quell ongoing unrest in the Valley.
Kashmir Valley is on the boil since July 8 when security forces in a joint operation killed Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a top commander of indigenous militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahedin along with his two associates in Kokernag area of southern Anantnag district.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, said on Thursday that had the troops who killed the militants known beforehand that Burhan was among them “they may have given him a second chance.” She termed the killing of Burhan as a “coincidence”.
She also said since the situation on ground had improved considerably giving a second chance to Burhan was an option in order to avoid the situation the Valley has been caught in in the aftermath of his killing.
But opposition Congress and National Conference parties have ridiculed her statement terming it a political gimmick.
On Friday, Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, had a telephonic conversation with the Chief Minister during which the turbulent situation prevailing in the Valley was discussed. Mr. Singh spent last weekend in the Valley for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
He also held a series of meetings with top officials of the State administration, police, central armed forces, the Army and intelligence agencies and separately closeted with leaders and representatives of various mainstream political parties excluding Congress which declined his invitation. The Valley’s key civil society groups and trade unions leaders also refused to meet him.
Meanwhile, amid heightened tensions, protests and ding dong stone-pelting battles along the streets of Srinagar only intensified on Friday afternoon even as the security forces in riot gear did not allow Friday congregational prayers at main mosques including Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. Also, a strict curfew was being enforced since dawn. However, Friday Namaz was allowed in mohalla mosques and also at Hazratbal shrine but only local residents could attend.
Small and big processions are underway in several parts of Srinagar. At places, children and women have also joined. Mosque loudspeakers reverberate with pro-freedom slogans and rebellious songs. Police have raided a few of these venues and confiscated the public addressing system. One protest was held outside the summer headquarters of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) at Sonwar here but police used force to disperse it, witnesses said.
Police officials said they have issued strict instructions to their men to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the situation. Reports pouring in from various areas, however, said police and central security forces fired teargas canisters and exploded stun grenades to quell protests at many places in and outside Srinagar.
