Curfew lifted from most parts as police-youth clashes erupt
SRINAGAR: Despite authorities lifting curfew and separatists asking people to resume life for the day, people in Srinagar came out protesting on Tuesday.
A spontaneous and massive pro-freedom rally was taken in old city and there were clashes between youth and police as authorities lifted curfew from most parts of the Valley.
The decision to lift the curfew on Tuesday coincided with the call of separatists to break the strike schedule for half of the day so that people could stock up supplies in the Valley under curfew for the past 17 days. Authorities have also decided to restore all post-paid mobile services from Tuesday night.
Police and CRPF removed barricades and concertina wires from roads and neighbourhoods of the old city that has been under siege since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s death in an encounter in south Kashmir triggered massive protests.
FOUR MILITANTS KILLED
Four militants were killed and one more apprehended in an operation by security forces in Nowgam sector near the line of control (LoC), an army official said. A Srinagar-based army spokesperson confirmed that all the militants are foreigners. However, he refused to give more details. “The operation has been called off. More details will emerge in a while,” he said.
Unconfirmed reports identified the arrested militant as Bahadur Ali, a resident of Lahore in Pakistan. But it was not confirmed by army officials. The army also said that all the militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Three AK 47 rifles, two pistols and other war-like stores were recovered from the encounter site. “Further details are being ascertained and will be shared on confirmation,’’ the spokesman said.