Mehbooba visits victims’ families amid tense situation; Two youth injured in Kashmir clashes

state times news
Srinagar: As tension prevailed in Kashmir on the fourth day, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday sought to douse the flames by visiting families of those killed since Tuesday in firing by security forces and assured them of justice amid her assertion that such incidents are “unacceptable”.
Mehbooba reached out to the families of the victims in the hour of grief even as curfew-like restrictions continued in certain parts of Kashmir and mobile internet services were snapped throughout the Valley.
Two youth were injured as violent clashes between stone-pelting mobs and security forces rocked Kashmir on Saturday, police said.
Yawar Rashid and Gowhar Majid sustained injuries when security forces fired pellet guns to disperse stone-pelting protestors in Trehgam area of Kupwara district, a police official said.
He said both the injured were shifted to a hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment.
Protestors resorted to stone-pelting on security forces at Nathnusa soon after police stopped and turned back MLA Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid, who wanted to visit Drugmulla, the official said.
Protests were also reported from Barsoo area of Ganderbal district where a group of youth blocked the road and resorted to stone-pelting, he said adding, the protestors were chased away.
Meanwhile, mother of the 16-year-old girl, whose alleged molestation on Tuesday triggered the cycle of violence in Kashmir, claimed that her daughter was pressurised into giving a video statement denying she was molested and has approached court seeking an independent probe into the incident.
“We do not want police or Army, those who have done this, to inquire it,” she said.
As tension persisted, Mehbooba visited and consoled the family of 18-year-old Arif Hussain Dar who was killed yesterday when army opened fire to disperse stone-pelting mobs outside a camp in Natnusa area of Kupwara, 100 kms  from here. She visited families of other deceased also.
Five people have died since Tuesday in firing by security forces on protesters who were agitating against alleged molestation in Handwara town of Kupwara district.
“The Chief Minister met the kin of the victims who were killed since Tuesday in the district. She expressed solidarity with them and assured them that inquiry will be conducted and justice done,” said an official who was present.
Mehbooba flew to Kupwara to make on-the-spot assessment of the situation. She also chaired a meeting of local officers which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan, MLA Handwara Sajad Lone, Chief Secretary B R Sharma, DGP K Rajendra Kumar and senior Army officer.
She made it clear that no civilian should be harmed while security forces deal with law-and-order situation.
Mehbooba said she had a telephonic conversation with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar late last evening and also met Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda and told them that incidents like the ones at Handwara and Nathnusa are “unacceptable” and come as a major setback to the efforts of the State government in consolidating peace dividends in the State.
“I have told Gen Hooda to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with law-and-order situations,” she said, adding the Defence Minister has assured her of time-bound investigation into the unfortunate incidents that led to the death of civilians during protests at Handwara and Natnusa.
While interacting with the members of the civil society, the Chief Minister sought their cooperation in restoring peace and normalcy in the frontier district.
The Chief Minister said she wanted to be with the people at this hour, grasp the sequence of events that led to the circle of violence and the action taken by the law-enforcing authorities.
Mehbooba said she was deeply saddened by the series of unfortunate events which led to the death of four young boys and an old woman.
“I never dreamt of coming to Kupwara like this after taking over as the Chief Minister. It is most unfortunate,” she said.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh, accompanied the Chief Minister.
Also present were Minister for Rural Development, Justice and Law, Abdul Haq Khan, Minister for Social Welfare, Sajjad Gani Lone, MP, Fayaz Ahmad Lone, MLA Kupwara, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Chief Secretary, B. R. Sharma, DGP, K. Rajendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Naveen Kumar Chaudhary, Deputy GoC, Kilo Force, Jarken Gamlin, ADGP, CID, S. M. Sahai, Divisional Commissioner, Asgar Hassan Samoon, IGP, Kashmir Zone, SJM Gillani, DIG, NKR, Uttam Chand, DC and SSP Kupwara. Meanwhile, strict restrictions were imposed in some areas in north Kashmir, including Kupwara and Handwara towns, to maintain law and order, a police official said.
He said restrictions also continued in some police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure. Most of the separatist leaders have either been arrested or kept under house arrest. Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled for today. A spokesman of the varsity said fresh dates for these examinations would be notified later.