“Curfew has been imposed in entire Srinagar district in view of the call for march by some elements to Hazratbal”. Eyewitnesses said that the residents of Arqam Mohalla Fateh Kadal offered Zuhar (afternoon) prayers at Baba Demb near Fire Service to mark a protest against the civilian killings in Kashmir.
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Fresh clashes erupted between security forces and mourners on Wednesday in India-administered Kashmir after two more civilians were killed in the restive region, a police officer and an AFP photographer said.
Curfew remained in force in five police station areas of old city and was extended to Batamaloo, Shaheedgunj, Soura, Zadibal, Qamarwari and Bemina areas of the city as a precautionary measure.
He was killed when a police guard escorting a government administrator fired at anti-India protesters who stopped their official auto in Pampore late Tuesday.
“A mob attacked the vehicle of Additional District Magistrate, Ramban at Lethpora on Srinagar-Jammu national highway today (Tuesday) evening while he was on way to Ramban in Jammu region”, a senior police officer said.
The protesters burned the auto and the administrator and police guard took refuge in a nearby paramilitary camp, the officer said. The other victim, who was among the protesters, was a private guard at a bank in Srinagar. His family blamed paramilitary soldiers for fatally shooting him. The initial investigation suggests he died from a pellet wound as he had more than 360 small pellet balls in his body.
Anti-India protests erupted shortly after the young man’s body was brought to his home in Srinagar.
Reminiscent of the 2008 and 2010 unrest, separatists have been issuing weekly protest calendars ever since Hizbul commander Burhan Wani was killed on July 8.
The resident was killed on Tuesday night when the bodyguard of a top district administrator fired his service weapon at protesters who had stopped the pair’s auto, witnesses said.
Shops, businesses and schools remained closed for the 28th consecutive day.
Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since the two gained independence from British rule in 1947. “Thousands of people gathered in the area and many from other areas crossed the river avoiding restrictions”.
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The state police arrested 349 persons and detained 122 more as it launched a crackdown against “hooligans and miscreants”.
