New clashes left two anti-India protesters dead and scores injured in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir on Tuesday, police said, as a security lockdown marred Eid festivities in the troubled region.
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The Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha is being observed in a subdued manner in the Kashmir Valley due to a curfew being imposed by the authorities to prevent unrest and acts of violence.
A 24-year-old youth identified as Shahid Ahmed was killed in Shopian district when a mob attacked security forces after Eid prayers. They will give early warning to security forces in case of assembly of people in certain areas, the sources told PTI.
Government according to sources has made a decision to impose the curfew in parts of the Valley and tightened the security on Tuesday in view of separatists call for a march towards central Eidgahs at district, tehsil and town-levels and then march towards UNMOGIP Sonawar for submitting a memorandum to be conveyed to 71st Session of General Assembly of United Nations starting on September 13.
With these deaths, the toll in the ongoing agitation in Kashmir has risen to 78.
All the areas which have a history of violent protests have been stationed with army troops said official sources, adding that curfew came into force from midnight.
For the first time, Eid prayers today are not being held at the famous Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar. Phone services, except BSNL in select places, and internet were shut across the valley.
The current violence, the worst to hit the region since 2010, was triggered by the July 8 extra-judicial killing of a popular leader, Burhan Wani, in a gunbattle with soldiers after which curfew was imposed. He succumbed to his injuries,”a police spokesman said”. Authorities ordered restrictions on the movement of residents across the region.
Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force said three of its personnel have been injured in stone-pelting incidents since yesterday.
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There are restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in rest of the Valley, he said.
