Lockdown in the Valley, 5 women injured in clashes

CLASHES ERUPTED BETWEEN YOUTHS AND POLICE AT WANI’S HOME VILLAGE IN TRAL; POLICE FIRE TEAR GAS, PELLETS IN SHOPIAN

SRINAGAR: Barring a few incidents of stone pelting, the first death anniversary of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani passed off without any major protest, police said on Saturday.

“The overall situation remained under control and no injuries were reported. However, there was stone pelting at six-seven places in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama and in Srinagar,” director general of police SP Vaid told HT.

He added that the administration had imposed restriction across the Valley to prevent any untoward incident.

The residents claimed that clashes erupted between youths and police at Wani’s home village in Tral, in which five women were injured, when police fired tear gas and pellets on protesters in Shopian.

Despite restrictions, people visited the house of slain Hizbul commander at Tral in Pulwama. “The restrictions were severe. Police objected to the presence of youth at Wani’s home, who in turn were infuriated leading to stone pelting, clashes with the police. The police resorted to tear gas shelling,” said a local requesting anonymity.

Authorities are on the edge as separatist and militants have called for a week-long protest calendar from July 7 to July 13 with next shutdown call on July 13 to commemorate the State Martyr’s Day.

Wani’s death in an encounter last year has plunged the Kashmir valley into crises. At least 19 people were killed and 1,000 wounded during the unrest.

To stop the people from assembling on Wani’s first death anniversary, thousands of police personnel and security forces dotted the roads and villages of the Valley. Security personnel also blocked roads and laid concertina wires to prevent movement of traffic and people.

THREE ARMY PERSONNEL INJURED

Three army personnel, including a Captain, were injured when militants fired at a patrol team in Kashmir’s Bandipora district, police said on Saturday. The militants opened indiscriminate fire on the army patrol at Hajin in Bandipora late on Friday. The militants managed to escape under cover of darkness. The injured were admitted to 92 Base Hospital here..

AMARNATH YATRA SUSPENDED

The authorities also suspended Amaranth Yatra for a day. There was a blanket ban on mobile internet and broadband services, causing huge inconvenience to the common people and journalists.