Protests at night, Hurriyat leader surfaces

Protests at night, Hurriyat leader surfaces

Protests at night, Hurriyat leader surfaces

Express news service

Tags : Kashmir Valley, Palhalan village , srinagar

Posted: Wed Sep 08 2010, 00:33 hrs

Updated: Wed Sep 08 2010, 00:37 hrs

Srinagar:

Curfew and restrictions were imposed in different parts of the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, including some localities of Srinagar, following the killing of four people in Palhalan village in police firing on Monday.

In Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, protesters clashed with the police and paramilitary forces to protest the killings. Fearing trouble, the authorities imposed curfew in several pockets of Srinagar and Anantnag township. Restrictions were also put in place in other major towns.

As the Valley was celebrating Shab-e-Qadr (the night of revelation) and special prayers were being offered in mosques, the youth in Srinagar were out on the streets the entire night, battling with the police.

Amid these protests, underground Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam made surprise appearances at several Srinagar neighbourhoods, urging the people to support the Hurriyat’s ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir’ campaign.

Alam has been on the run for the past two-and-half-months. The J-K Police has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing information that could lead to Alam’s arrest.

On Monday night after the taraweeh (special Ramzan prayers) was over, the youth took to the streets across Srinagar and threw stones at the police and paramilitary forces.

Hundreds of youth clashed with the police near Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid (Grand Mosque) after prayers. The police first fired tear gas shells but when the protesters did not relent, they fired warning shots in the air to disperse them. The protests continued the whole night. Later, curfew was imposed in the neighbourhood.

Similar protests erupted at Nawpora. Some protesters painted ‘Go India Go’ and ‘We want Freedom’ graffiti on the roads and walls while others clashed with security personnel. Clashes were reported from Batamaloo, Bemina, Maisuama, Budshah chowk, By-pass, Tengpora, Zakoora and Habak localities.

Curfew was imposed in Anantnag. In the neighbouring towns of Pampore, Awantipore, Pulwama and Shopian, protesters clashed with the police. Protests were also reported from Kupwara and Sopore townships.