Geelani detained while trying to march towards Army Cantt
At least 25 people injured in fresh clashes
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: A policeman was shot dead by militants in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday, police said. Constable Khurshid Ahmad Ganai was shot by armed gunmen outside his residence at Koil in Pulwama this morning, a police official said.
He said Ganai, who was on way to the district police lines Pulwama sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a hospital for treatment. The cop, however, succumbed to injuries at the hospital, the official said.
Meanwhile, Hardline Hurriyat Conference separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani was on Saturday detained as he tried to defy house arrest to march towards the headquarters of the Army at Badamibagh here as part of the proposed protest programme of the separatists.
He was taken into preventive custody outside his Hyderpora residence this afternoon, a police official said.
The Hurriyat hawk was taken to Humhama police station and lodged there, he said.
Geelani was on his way towards Badamibagh for handing over a letter to General Officer Commanding of the Army asking the forces to “vacate Jammu and Kashmir”.
On Friday, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who tried to take out a march along with his supporters from his Nigeen residence, was also taken into custody and later shifted to Chashma Shahi Guest House.
At least 25 people were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Kashmir on Saturday.
Police recovered the body of a youth from River Jhelum at Sangam in Anantnag district on Saturday morning, a police official said.
He said locals alleged that Shahnawaz Khatana had drowned in the river yesterday when security forces chased a group of stone-pelters in the area.
A police spokesman said barring five incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Shopian and Bandipora districts, the overall situation in the Valley remained peaceful and under control.
“The stone pelting incidents were reported from Barbugh, Hillow, Kadgam in Shopian, Sangam in Anantnag and Watpora-Potshah in Bandipora,” the spokesman said.
He said some miscreants in order to disturb the situation assembled on roads and allegedly pelted stones on police and security force deployments. While the spokesman did not mention the number of those injured in the clashes, police sources said at least 25 people sustained injuries during incidents at these places.
Authorities had to reimpose curfew in Anantnag town and adjoining areas in view of violent protests in Sangam area, the official said.
Curfew from the south Kashmir town was briefly lifted this morning after remaining in force for 49 days.
Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and two south Kashmir towns of Pulwama and Pampore to maintain law and order in view of the separatist plans to march towards the headquarters of Army at Badamibagh here. He also said restrictions on assembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley to maintain law and order.
Shops, private offices, educational institutions and petrol pumps remained closed while public transport continued to be off roads.
The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. Mobile Internet also continued to remain suspended in the entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaid mobiles remained barred.
