2 more killed as crowds continue attacks on camps

30,000 Muslims attend Friday prayers at Hazratbal shrine

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 20: With two more fatal casualties in Sopore and Bijbehara towns, number of the civilian demonstrators killed in different incidents of clashes with Police and CRPF since June 11th has reached 60. Even as the crowds continued demonstrations and attacks on Police stations and camps at several places in the Valley, authorities succeeded to maintain control on the supersensitive Hazratbal shrine where around 30,000 devout Muslims today participated in the afternoon prayers on occasion of second Friday of the holy month of Ramazan.

Informed sources told early Times that one of the youngsters wounded in last night’s CRPF firing at Chinkipora, Sopore, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS in the wee hours today. He was identified as 18-year-old Mudassar Nazir Hajam S/o Nazir Ahmed Hajam. As already reported in this newspaper, a fierce clash had taken place between a group of youth and CRPF when the paramilitaries were withdrawing at the end of the day at Chinkipora in Sopore. One Assistant Commandant of CRPF 177 Bn, S K Dass, got critically injured when someone hurled a broken bottle of glass on his neck. In retaliation, CRPF opened fire, causing injuries to at least two of the civilians. One of them, namely Mudassar Nazir, later died at SKIMS.

However, some of the residents insisted that Mudassar Nazir was hit over one Kilometer away at Hajam Mohalla, in close vicinity of the Police Station. On their complaint, Police Station of Sopore today filed a murder case under section 302 RPC against the men of CRPF 177 Bn. CRPF spokesman, Prabhakar Tripathi, maintained that only one incident occurred in Sopore last evening. He claimed that a violent crowd attacked the CRPF party, which had also some men from J&K Police, at Chinkipora. He asserted that CRPF fired some rubber bullets only in defence.

Reports said that groups of youngsters today violated declared and undeclared curfew restrictions in Sopore, Baramulla and Handwara towns and they engaged CRPF and Police in intermittent clashes. A number of people from both sides are said to have sustained injuries in these clashes.

Sources said that another fierce clash took place between CRPF/Police and demonstrators at Bijbehara, on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in the forenoon today. Residents said that CRPF thrashed pedestrians and pelted stones on the vehicles plying on the highway. They said that it provoked hundreds of local people who took to the streets and clashed with forces and Police. It was during these clashes that CRPF opened fire. A local shopkeeper, 25-year-old Nazir Ahmed Wani S/o Abdul Rehman Wani of Mohalla Pir Shah, got killed and at least three others sustained injuries.

People returning from Wani’s funeral also attacked the residential house of local National Conference leader, Ghulam Qadir Tak. Police guards on duty opened fire and the crowds dispersed. Damage was caused to Tak’s house. Sources said that the angry crowds set on fire three vehicles and a motorcycle. They also attempted to torch Police Station and the office of Sub Divisional Police Officer. Curfew was imposed on the township and vehicular traffic on way from Jammu to Srinagar was stopped at Banihal under orders of DIG South Kashmir, Shafaqat Wattali. It had not resumed onward movement till late this evening.

Reports said that the unruly crowds staged demonstrations and attacked camps and CRPF bunkers at several places. One CRPF bunker was attacked near Islamia College in Srinagar. In addition to Police Stations at Sopore and Bijbehara, crowds also attacked DC’s office at Shopian. Yet another group of violent youth attacked the CRPF-guarded cash carriage of J&K Bank at Kralpora on Srinagar-Chadoura Road. CRPF guards opened fire and dispersed the mob.

Enjoying a day’s relaxation in Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat’s shutdown, people in most of the localities today attended businesses and government offices. Reports said that massive traffic jams choked the movement of vehicles for hours. Still, curfew continued to be in forces in certain downtown localities in Srinagar besides a few towns.

Meanwhile, sources said that the authorities succeeded in maintaining control of the much revered Hazratbal shrine where, amid considerable uncertainty and apprehensions of trouble, nearly 30,000 Muslims participated in the Friday afternoon prayers. Reports said that there was no disturbance. One of the Police companies guarding the shrine since long has been replaced on the peoples’ demand by a fresh company of police.

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