Friday protests, two killings rock Kashmir

situation in Kashmir was edgy on Friday owing to two killings in south Kashmir, protests over increasing braidchopping incidents and restrictions by authorities.

Mobile internet services were suspended and restrictions imposed in parts of the old city by the authorities to prevent escalation of protests against incidents of braid-chopping in the Valley.

FRUIT VENDOR IN TRAL SHOT AT, DIES

Unidentified gunmen struck in south Kashmir and opened fire on Rafiq Ahmad Bhat,37, a fruit vendor from Tral in Pulwama district.

Bhat alias Dadaa, a former militant, was shot at and critically injured by the ultras at Tral Bala, a police officer told PTI.

Bhat was rushed to the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital but died on the way. “Bhat had been attacked last year as well but had survived,” the unnamed police officer told the agency.

The officer added that the police was trying to trace the attackers and investigating as to what their motive could be.

ELDERLY MAN HIT FATALLY WITH BRICK

In the neighbouring Anantnag district, a 70-year-old man succumbed to his injures this morning after he was hit by a brick in his head on Thursday night.

Police said that Abdul Salam Wani was reportedly hit by a brick thrown by his nephew when Wani was answering nature’s call in Danter village of Anantnag. “He died instantly,” a police officer said.

Local reports said that a vigilante mob mistook Wani as the culprit behind braid-chopping and attacked him. Police, however, did not confirm the report.

“This has nothing to do with braid-chopping. He was answering nature’s call outside his home late in the evening when his nephew reportedly threw a brick at him. The matter is under investigation,” said Anantnag senior superintendent of police (SSP) Altaf Ahmad Khan.

SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF BRAID-CHOPPING

Kashmir has seen a number of protests over repeated reports of braid-chopping over the past few weeks. People protested on Friday in Patha Chowk when a similar incident was reported.

There has been unease among the womenfolk.

Special investigation teams and round the clock help lines have been set up in every district to probe the incidents.

SEPARATIST PLACED UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Jammu and Kashmir Police has announced a bounty of ₹6 lakh for anyone providing information about the braid-chopping incidents in the Valley fearing that the incidents could be used to spark anti-India sentiments.

The separatists have termed braid-chopping an “attack on the dignity and a war weapon against women folk” and had asked people on Friday to register their protest.

The authorities have put moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest while Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front chairman Yasin Malik was taken into custody. The two were expected to protest against the braid-chopping incidents.

MOBILE INTERNET SERVICES SNAPPED AGAIN IN VALLEY

Mobile internet services were today snapped across Kashmir to prevent rumour mongering following several cases of vigilante violence against braid chopping incidents in the Valley, officials said.

The services were snapped shortly after noon as a precautionary measure, an official said.

Separatists had called for protests against braid-chopping incidents, whose number has increased over the past few days with people resorting to vigilante action, the official said. However, in many instances, innocent people have suffered at the hands of the mob.

BRAIDCHOPPING INCIDENTS SPARK OUTRAGE; SEPARATISTS URGE PEOPLE TO REGISTER PROTEST FOR ‘ATTACK ON THE DIGNITY OF WOMENFOLK’