A prolonged curfew, communication blackouts and a tightening crackdown have failed to stop some of the largest protests in Kashmir against Indian rule in recent years, triggered by a rebel commander’s killing on July 8.
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More troops have now been deployed on the Kashmir frontier to foil such infiltration attempts, officials said.
The protesters threw stones at security forces at these places. The decision was taken to maintain law and order in the Valley ahead of the Friday prayers. “Around 700 people had assembled at the place and thousands more were expected when forces turned up at around 11:30 amand vandalized the venue”, said a local.
The encounters between security forces and the militants, who were holed up in a house and another structure near the under-construction Mini Secretariat, erupted at around 7.30 AM and continued through the day.
These are the areas which are dotted with apple orchards and lead to dense forests where militants are holed up, the officials said, adding that in case the army mounts pressure on one side, they escape and mingle with the local population on the other.
As the prayers ended and people started raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans government forces swung into action and resorted to tear gas shelling that resulted in the injuries of many people.
According to details, curfew in the area has still been imposed by the Indian forces on 65 day while pellet guns fires have been used on Kashmiris who were protesting against Indian brutality.
He said 14 police station areas of Srinagar – the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir – and towns of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Pampore, Awantipora, Tral, Baramulla, Pattan and Palhallan have been placed under curfew.
This is despite the contrary reports that army was not supportive of the idea, however, General Suhag met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi on last Wednesday and the duo discussed the prevailing situation in Kashmir.
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However, the reports said, “the army is absolutely clear that it is not equipped to deal with mobs and protests, since its soldiers carry automatic weapons and are trained to shoot to kill”.
