STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Kashmir remained tense and normal life paralysed due to curfew and strike for the 27th day on Thursday in the wake of the ongoing unrest, even as a massive crackdown has been launched by police to arrest the “trouble-makers”.
Most of the main towns across the Valley continued to remain under curfew in view of the unrelenting protests.
Curfew remained in force in Anantnag, Shopian and Pampore towns of south Kashmir, Khanpora town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and in six police station areas of Srinagar, a police official said.
The official said restrictions on the assembly of four or more people under section 144 CrPC have been imposed in the rest of the Valley as a precautionary measure.
He said security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.
Dozens of persons, including several security force personnel, were injured in the clashes between protestors and security forces in many parts of the Valley yesterday with Kulgam district in south Kashmir witnessing large-scale violence.
Normal life in the Valley remained affected for the 27th consecutive day due to the curbs imposed by the authorities and separatist sponsored strike against the killing of civilians in security forces action during clashes, which erupted in the wake of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s killing in an encounter on July 8.
Protests broke out across Kashmir Valley on July 9, leading to clashes with security forces in which 51 persons have been killed.
Schools, colleges, business establishments, petrol pumps, banks and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off roads.
The attendance in government offices was also thin, the official said.
Some activity has been taking place for the last couple of days after 6 PM as many shops and business establishments open after sundown as the separatists have announced a relaxation in the agitation programme to allow people to buy essentials in view of the prolonged shut down.
Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley where the outgoing facility on prepaid connections is barred.
The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till August 5, calling for a march to Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the famous Dal Lake here on Friday.
500 arrested as police seeks to end protests in Valley
Srinagar: In a Abid to end street protests, police have launched a massive crackdown against “hooligans and miscreants” in Kashmir and arrested nearly 500 youth from across the Valley.
“In its continuous drive against hooligans and miscreants, 349 accused persons have been arrested in the Valley,” a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said 122 persons have been detained under “prohibitory provisions of law”.
More than 50 persons have been killed, including two policemen, and nearly 6000 others injured in the ongoing street protests in Kashmir since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two associates in an encounter with security forces on July 8.
Initially, the authorities imposed curfew across the Valley to curb the protests but the strategy failed as more and more people took to the streets.
A senior police official said the security agencies are using video footage and photographs to pinpoint the “trouble mongers and instigators” among the protestors.
“We have deployed some personnel in uniform equipped with cameras for recording the incidents of stone pelting and pinpoint those instigating the protests during the analysis of the footage available,” the official said.
He said once the accused person is identified, he is arrested “at an appropriate time”.
However, the official admitted that many of the wanted youth are still at large as they are not staying with their families any more.
“They keep shifting from one place to another but efforts are on to nab them as soon as possible”.
The modus operandi adopted by the security forces is to conduct nocturnal raids for apprehending the accused persons, a move which has come in for criticism from the separatist camp.
The separatists have accused the security forces of “harassing peaceful protestors” under the garb of maintaining law and order.
HC seeks fresh ….
web portal of the State Crime Branch”, the SIT informed adding that similarly information has been disseminated in the various social media close group users like Facebook, Whatsapp, Wechat, live etc created to exchange information on crime incidents and for making efforts to reach out to society.
“Besides the information has also been shared with National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), New Delhi and similarly pamphlets/flyers with the photo description of the Advocate Raman Wazir are being printed for circulation for widening the area of search”, the SIT stated.
It was also submitted that in order to have a quick survey of the vicinity in order to make an estimate of the situation, aerial search operation radius through state chopper was also carried out and SIT is adopting proactive multipronged approach in tracing the missing Advocate, which are sure to deliver desired outcome within the shortest time period.
“As such indulgence of the court is being sought to grant some more reasonable time so as to conclude the exploration’, the SIT submitted.
Justice Tashi Rabstan, after going through the status report and after hearing Advocate Abhinav Sharma and Pranav Kohli, appearing for the petition whereas Senior AAG SS Nanda along with SIT Incharge Shahzad Salaria SP south, observed that keeping in view the sensitivity of matter and to maintain the confidentiality of the investigation, brief in-camera proceedings with the members of the SIT, present in the Court, were also taken up in the official Chamber.
Justice Tashi further observed that the investigation is in progress. “A request for more time is made for bringing the investigation to its logical conclusion. The request seems to be genuine. Accordingly, three days time is granted. However, head of the SIT is directed to update the Bench about the investigation on day-to-day basis and directed SIT to file fresh status report on Monday”, the Judge observed.
Meanwhile the work in the State High Court as well as District Court complex Jammu remained affected and the same shall remain suspended till August 5, 2016.
