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Restrictions in Kupwara, clashes near Jamia Masjid, Sopore

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 4/29/2017 10:10:51 AM

Separatists call for shutdown on Sunday

SRINAGAR, Apr 28: Restrictions were today imposed in some parts of Kupwara district to prevent protests against the killing of a civilian in security forces firing at Panzgam village. Protestors clash with police and security forces after Friday prayers at several places including Nowhatta here, Sopore and Pulwama.
During the clashes, police and security forces burst smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge. The protestors pelted stones.
The separatist leadership called for a shutdown on Sunday against the killing of a civilian at Panzgam. The authorities have ordered closing of three higher secondary schools in Srinagar as a precautionary measure.
Authorities today imposed restrictions on assembly of people in parts of Kupwara district to maintain law and order in the wake of death of a civilian in firing by security forces on protestors after militants attacked an army installation.
The curbs under Section 144 CrPc which prohibits assembly of five or more people were imposed in Kupwara town, Kralpora, Trehgam and Lalpora Sogam, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, district magistrate, Kupwara, told media. He said the situation in the district was normal and there were no reports of any untoward incident so far.
The restrictions were imposed to maintain peace in view of the protests after a civilian Mohammad Yousuf Bhat died in firing by forces on the demonstrators yesterday. The protesters were demanding the bodies of the two militants who were killed in retaliatory firing after they attacked an artillery unit of an army garrison at Panzgam yesterday.
Three soldiers, including an officer, were killed by the militants in the pre-dawn attack before two assailants were killed by the forces while the third managed to escape in an injured condition.
After Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid here, youth took to streets and held demonstrations. They pelted stones on police and security forces. The incident occurred immediately after Friday prayers. The youth tried to take out a rally. On being stopped, they pelted stones and clashes continued between the two sides. This affected normal life around Jamia Masjid area including Nowhatta.
Clashes erupted between the security forces and protesters in Sopore town fter Friday prayers.
Reports said the clashes started after police used tear gas to stop protesters who were attempting to march from Markazi Jamia Masjid area to main Chowk and main bazaar area of the town.
The protesters pelted stones on men in uniform. The clashes disturbed normal life. Shopkeepers downed their shutters while transport went off the roads. Clashes later spread to Batpora and Shah Dargah Chowk of the town.
People at Chatapora in Pulwama alleged that security forces thrashed several residents and smashed the windowpanes of several cars in the area. Clashes occured in Pulwama town. The protestors pelted stones and security forces burst smoke shells. Youth staged protests in the area immediately after congregational prayers came to an end. However, forces deployed in the area resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protesters, triggering intense clashes.
Three teachers alleged that army thrashed them inside their Islamic seminary in Shopian district. Hafiz Sabzar Ahmad, Hafiz Bilal Ahmad and Hafiz Mohammad Iqbal of Darsgah Zia-ul-Huda Alyalpora Shopian said they were beaten with lathis.
According to them, the security men came to the seminary and blamed them for stone pelting. “We told them that nobody from the seminary hurled the stones. But they said that teachers should be punished for the wrongs of students. They did not listen to us and started the beating,” alleged one of the teachers. However, army described the allegation as false.
Meanwhile, district ddministration in Srinagar has decided to keep the class work suspended in government MP higher secondary school (HSS) Bagh-i-Dilawar Khan and SP HSS tomorrow..
"The class work in these two schools will remain suspended as a precautionary measure where as other institutions including colleges will remain open," deputy commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said.