Curfew continues in two Kashmir districts

Srinagar, July 30: Authorities on Saturday imposed curfew in two south Kashmir districts and restrictions in many other areas of the Valley.

"Curfew shall continue today (Saturday) in Pulwama and Kulgam districts. Restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) will continue in other places," a senior police official told IANS.

"Police and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel were deployed in different areas," the official added.

Despite a Valley wide curfew to prevent a separatist called protest march on Friday, over 100 people including civilians and security forces were injured when agitating mobs attacked security forces.

A civilian was killed and his pillion riding son injured when he hit a roadblock in Beerwa area of Badgam district.

Police said miscreants had laid obstructions on the road which the ill-fated biker did not see before he hit it.

Police and CRPF used tear smoke shells to quell a mob of protesters in Srinagar that was marching towards the Sonwar locality office of the UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani issued a statement on Friday condemning youths threatening Amarnath pilgrims and tourists.

Geelani called these "masked miscreants as Indian agents out to defame the people's struggle in Kashmir".

Emboldened youths have been blocking roads and highways in addition to forcing shopkeepers to close businesses in areas where peripheral markets are functioning in Srinagar and other districts.

Separatists have asked people to observe a protest shutdown till Sunday.

IANS