Jammu on fire: 13 killed as thousands defy curfew

Srinagar, Aug 12: Thirteen people were killed and more than 100 injured when police and security forces opened fire, burst teargas shells and resorted to batoncharge to disperse thousands of people who defied curfew in different parts of the city on Tuesday, Aug 12.

Official sources said people at Lasjan came out of their houses violating the curfew and raised slogans. A resident from the area said security forces and police opened fire and also burst teargas shells to disperse the processionists. He said seven people, including a woman, received serious injuries in the firing. Later, three of them were reported dead, he said.

However, official sources said two people were killed in the firing. Sources said one of the injured women later died in the hospital. Seven police and security personnel, including an officer were also injured, the sources said.

Geelani, Omar with lakhs attend Aziz's 'Nimaz Jinazah'

Chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front were among lakhs of people who attended the 'Nimaz Jinazah' of People's League chairman Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was killed in firing during Muzaffarabad march on Monday, Aug 11.

Aziz was laid to rest at the martyrs graveyard at Eidgah on Tuesday, Aug 12 afternoon.

The authorities had virtually withdrawn security and police forces from the Eidgah and Jamia Masjid and other areas to allow smooth passage of the funeral procession of Aziz without any confrontation.

Smooth supply of food and essential commodities in JK

To facilitate smooth supply of goods to and from Kashmir Valley, the Army has cleared the 300 km long national highway to help the movement of goods.

The 300 Km long highway is the only surface link between the Valley and the rest of the country. Violent protests over the land row on the Jammu-Srinagar highway had caused disruption in the supply of medicines, food items and other commodities to the valley.

Sources in the Defence Ministry said that since Army's deployment on August 4 on the national highways of Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar, smooth movement of trucks including petrol tankers carrying essential supplies to the Valley and other parts of the State have been ensured.

"The Army escorted 2263 loaded trucks, 487 empty trucks, 764 buses, 97 oil tankers, 58 LPG and 1212 light vehicles from Jammu to Srinagar," sources said.

UNI