Authorities chose to impose curfew in the Valley on Tuesday for the 12th day running while separatists extended the protest shutdown for another three days here in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Official said that a total of 20 fresh companies (100 personnel in each) are being rushed to the Valley which will be in addition to 2,800 Central Reserve Police Force personnel which were sent to assist the state police last week.
Late on Monday, the protesters blocked a main road and started throwing stones at an army convoy that was deployed to the region, police said on Tuesday. “A lot of people are struggling for medicines for diabetes, hypertension and anti-depressants”, said Nazir Ahmed who owns a pharmacy in the old part of Srinagar. The Muslim Unity Council (MUC) members addressing a press conference expressed grave concern over the civilian killings in the territory and assured full support to the people of the Valley.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, the Internet service and mobile phone services remained suspended, aggravating miseries of the people of the Valley.
At a news briefing on Thursday afternoon, however, an American reporter pointed out that for the last three days, journalists had been trying to get the State Department’s reaction to the events in Kashmir but they only succeeded in getting an acknowledgement from the podium that “we have seen the reports of the violence and we are concerned about it”.
Amitabh Mattoo, advisor to the state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, told media that the decision to ban publication of newspapers was not taken at the instance of the Chief Minister.
Asked about the incident in Gujarat in which some Dalits were assaulted for allegedly skinning a cow, Naidu said the matter was discussed at the BJP Parliamentary Party Executive meeting yesterday and the state government had acted immediately after the incident took place.
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES SHUT TILL JULY 24 Schools and colleges in the Valley, which were scheduled to reopen on Monday, will now open on July 25 as thegovernment on Sunday extended summer vacations by a week in view of the prevailing situation.
The separatist leaders have called for hoisting black flags over all the residential houses, commercial establishments like shops and important landmarks and squares.
Meanwhile, curfew remained in force, with normal life paralysed for the ninth day in wake of clashes that left 40 dead and over 3,400 injured.
In an All Party Meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the unity in opinions, of all political parties, over the current situations in Kashmir.
Police chief K. Rajendra Kumar, however, described his killing as “a major success against militants in Kashmir”, adding, “This year, we killed 83 militants in Kashmir, which is highest in recent years”.
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As the government was blamed for using too much force, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh insisted that, on the contrary, security forces had been asked to use maximum restraint and the least force. I am surprised that Ms. Mufti is unaware of the situation. “In the fight against separatism, people of Kashmir are with the country”. However, Muneer-ul-Islam, the deputy commissioner of Pulwama, told the local news agency, KNS, that the MLA’s vehicle met with an accident due to blockade on the road in Pulwama town and that it was not attacked by anyone. “Whatever is happening is being done by Pakistan”.
