3 More Killed in Kashmir, 400 Injured in Protests Across Valley

SRINAGAR: Three civilians including a 10th class students were killed while around 400 persons were injured across Kashmir, five of them critically, as the Government imposed strict curfew in summer capital Srinagar and parts of the Valley on Saturday, in a bid to bring situation under control.

Massive day long clashes marked Friday across the Valley after people, defying restriction, came out of their houses to stage anti-government protests even as authorities foiled the “Dargah Chalo”call by the separatists. The senior separatists, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained by police after they tried to march towards Dargah in Hazratbal here from their respective places.

While the fresh killings took the death toll to 56, in terms of the numbers, the Friday recorded the highest injuries across the Valley in the ongoing protests that have swept the region following the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

In Sopore and parts of Baramulla, more than 110 persons were injured most of them hit by pellets while the number of injured in central Kashmir’s Budgam district swelled to 100.

A senior doctor at the Srinagar’s SMHS hospital said that since Friday evening they have admitted around 90 persons with pellet and bullet injuries.

“The condition of four persons with bullet injuries is critical though they were operated upon late Friday night,” said the doctor.

With situation escalating further the authorities continued with the curfew in both civil lines and downtown areas of Srinagar and major town and other parts of the Valley on Saturday.

In uptown Chanpora and Natipora which witnessed massive protests on Friday, police, early this morning made announcement on loudspeakers fitted on their vehicles, warning people against defying the curfew.

“The situation has been under control since morning but as we have been witnessing the protests start usually during evening hours. That is the worry,” said a senior police official.

Meanwhile, the separatists have issued a fresh protest calendar for seven days, starting today, extending the shutdown till August 12.

As per the calendar, “there will be relaxation in shutdown on alternative days after 6 pm while people have been asked to held protests during the entire week”.

Meanwhile Saleem Yousuf reports from Pattan: Strict Curfew has been imposed in Pattan town after protests on Saturday morning. Police used pellet guns, with at least four , including a girl, injured. Injured Persons were shifted to Sub District Hospital Pattan for treatment.

Meanwhile all the Roads leads to National Highway including hospital Road and Srinagar Muzaffarabad National Highway were blocked by the forces. Yesterday after Friday prayers more than 20 persons were injured in the town during protests and clashes among which four boys have been shifted to SMHS Hospital in a critical condition.

(Cover Photo: Women demonstrating in Pattan town)