No major clash reported in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 14: No major clash was reported today from anywhere in Kashmir where uneasy calm prevailed with normal life remaining disrupted for the sixth consecutive day.

Meanwhile, one more injured youth succumbed to injuries at a hospital here, raising to 36 the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir which was triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last Friday.

The dead include a policeman. "No major clash was reported from anywhere so far though minor stone pelting incidents were reported from different areas," a police official said. The situation, however, continued to be tense, he said.

Police, which is exploring new ways to deal with violent protests, is planning to use drones equipped with hi-tech cameras for surveillance purposees.

In this connection, such a remote-controlled unammed aerial vehicle was briefly flown today in the deserted Lal Chowk, nerve centre of capital Srinagar.

An 18-year-old boy Irfan Ahmad Dar, who was allegedly beaten up by security forces outside his house at Tuli Noorpora village of Kulgam district on July 9 and was undergoing treatment for hemorrhage at SKIMS hospital, succumbed to his injuries this morning, officials said.

While the four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama accounted for 34 deaths, one death each took place in Srinagar and Kupwara districts.

The officials said local residents fished out the body of a youth from river Jhelum at Jeobara village of Awantipora in Pulwama district yesterday. Identified as Zahoor Ahmad Mantoo of Kakapora village, he was reportedly missing after leaving his home to attend the funeral procession of Burhan.

"It seems it is a case of drowning and unrelated to the unrest... Medical and legal formalities have been conducted and there were no marks of violence or fire arm injury on the body," Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Muneer-ul-Islam said.

Authorities have decided to impose strict curfew in Pulwama district including Tral, the native place of Burhan, tomorrow as they apprehend trouble after Friday prayers.

Entire Pulwama district will be placed under strict curfew tomorrow as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the DC said, adding "It is requested people should not venture out of their homes tomorrow."

Officials said one Aqib Ahmad Bhat of Shaliteng suffered pellet injuries on lower thigh during a law and order problem in Parimpora area of the city last evening and was admitted in the SKIMS hospital.

PTI