Militants attack forces in Kulgam, Srinagar remains under curfew on day 84
A shopkeeper sells walnut kernels at the market in Uri on Friday. The town made headlines earlier this month after four militants stormed an army camp and killed nineteen soldiers.
Life in Kashmir remained crippled for the 84th day on Friday owing to restrictions as police tried to stop people from assembling in Srinagar on the call of separatists while a patrolling team of forces came under fire from suspected militants in Kulgam district.
Militants opened fire on a joint team of police and CRPF in Beebagh Yaripora area of Kulgam and fled, a police officer said, adding that there was no casualty or damage in the attack.
In Srinagar, where separatist leadership had asked people to occupy Lal Chowk, authorities imposed curfew and restrictions while security forces erected barricades and blocked roads, besides forcing people to remain indoors in many parts of Old City, Batamaloo and Maisuma areas.
Friday prayers could not be held in Jamia Masjid for the twelfth consecutive week due to restrictions imposed since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, which had triggered violent unrest in the Valley killing 87 and injuring hundreds.
In uptown areas of Srinagar, people offered prayers and tried to march towards Lal Chowk, but were stopped by police and CRPF. Some reportedly offered funeral prayers for Pakistani soldiers allegedly killed in Indian shelling on Thursday.
Many were injured after forces lobbed tear gas shells and fired pellets on a congregation in Nadihal village of Baramulla district in north Kashmir.
Residents said the force was allegedly used on people who had gathered in a school ground to offer prayers.
Locals of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district said that an elderly woman, Sara Begum died of cardiac arrest after security forces allegedly banged the gate of her house in Chee village on Thursday night.
However, police refuted the allegations, saying that Begum was known to be a heart patient.
Meanwhile in the areas where curfew was not imposed, residents observed a shutdown on the call of separatists. Shops, businesses and schools remained closed while traffic was off the roads.
The latest call for shutdown has been extended to October 6 with relaxation on three days from 5pm to 6 am.
