6 hurt in Kashmir clashes, curfew imposed

At least six persons were injured in clashes between stone-pelters and law enforcing agencies in Kashmir valley, where authorities imposed curfew in four districts to prevent breach of peace in the wake of the arrest of hardline Hurriyat leader Masrat Alam.

The clashes took place in Baramulla district town in north Kashmir, Shopian district town and Seer Hamdan area of Anantnag district in south and Parimpora area of Srinagar, official sources said.

Groups of youth defied curfew and indulged in heavy pelting at several places in Baramulla town, 55 km from Srinagar, on Tuesday afternoon, they said.

Police assisted by the Central Reserve Police Force fired warning shots after teargas shelling and baton charge proved ineffective to restore law and order, resulting in injuries to four persons.

One of the injured identified as Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of old town, was hit by pellets in the thigh and was referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment, they said. Two persons were injured in stone-pelting and subsequent security forces action at Gole Chakri in Shopian district town, the sources said, adding while Ghulam Mohammad Bhat was hit by a rubber bullet, a girl was injured in the face after stone-pelters attacked a private vehicle carrying a group of students.

Security guards of a ruling National Conference leader fired several rounds in air to disperse a group of youth who attacked his vehicle at Seer Hamdan in Anantnag district. However, none was hurt in the firing, the sources said. Minor incidents of stone pelting were also reported from Parimpora area of Srinagar.

A police spokesman said curfew has been imposed in parts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla and Kupwara districts on Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure.

Barring Baramulla district, the restrictions were eased in other curfew-bound areas of the valley in a phased manner as the day progressed. Police vehicles fitted with public address system made rounds of Srinagar city, Ganderbal district town and Kangan town around dawn to announce imposition of curfew , hours after the arrest of Alam, a close confidante of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

In north Kashmir, Baramulla town, Pattan, Palhalan, Kunzar, Tangmarg, Kupwara town, Trehgam, Kralpora, Handwara town, Kulangam and Chotipora have been placed under curfew. However, curfew was relaxed in Kupwara from 10 am onwards while in Handwara the restrictions have been eased from 10 am to 2 pm, he said.

The restrictions were imposed as authorities apprehended that separatists might try to disturb peace by instigating violent protests against the arrest of Alam. The restrictions were lifted from South, West and East zones of Srinagar city from noon onwards, the spokesman said, adding the relaxation was later extended to Hazratbal and north Zones of the city from 5 pm onwards.