Article 35-A: 22 injured in Valley clashes

SRINAGAR/JAMMU : A spontaneous shutdown and protests were triggered in many parts of the Valley on Monday after rumours spread that the SC was hearing petitions against Article 35 A.

As per health officials, at least 22 people were injured the clashes.

The SC is expected to hear the main bunch of petitions on Friday against the Article 35-A that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to them.

The state government had moved an application in the court to defer the hearing citing upcoming panchayat and urban local body elections.

As soon as the rumours spread, youth came out on roads, particularly in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Shopian districts, and clashed with security forces. Security forces fired tear gas and pellets to disperse the stone-pelting youth in Shopian.

“22 people were admitted to hospital with pellet injuries. Six of them, including three with pellets in their eyes, were referred to Srinagar hospitals for advanced treatment,” said Shopian chief medical officer Abdul Rashid.

In Srinagar, shopkeepers downed their shutters at Lal Chowk, while several schools and educational institutes remained closed. Police as well as a separatist leaders took to social media with messages to stem the rumours. The authorities also reduced the speed of mobile internet.

OPEN FIR AGAINST NC WORKERS FOR RAISING PRO-FREEDOM SLOGANS

The police have registered an open FIR against over a dozen National Conference (NC) workers in Poonch’s Mendhar for allegedly raising pro-freedom slogans during a protest against petition challenging constitutional validity of Article 35-A.

The protesters were led by NC MLA from Mendhar, Javed Rana.

An open FIR has been registered against a mob of NC workers for raising pro-freedom slogans under Sections 120-B and 124A. An action will be initiated against 20 to 25 NC workers and possibly against NC MLA Rana.