Anger against the transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has spread to other parts of the Valley on Wednesday with two more persons dying in police firing at central Budgam. Over 100 people were injured in the daylong clashes between police and protesters across the Valley.
While Srinagar continued to boil for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, protesters took to streets in Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Handwara, Kokernag, Verinag, Ganderbal and Kangan. Normal life remained suspended in these districts with businessmen, transporters and lawyers observing complete strike. The shutdown was spontaneous. No group or individual had called for the strike. All schools in Ganderbal district had to close down due to the tension.
Angry youth fought pitched battles with police at Ram Bagh, Natipora, Chanpora, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Bohri Kadal, Laweypora, Bemina, Bagh-e-Mahtab and several other places in Srinagar. Police fired tear-gas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the agitating groups. Police fired in the air to disperse protestors at Malaratta.
At least 25 persons were reported injured in the clashes. Protestors set ablaze huts in a government park in interior city.
Police opened fire on a protesting mob at Mazhama village killing one Farooq Ahmad Rather. Clashes between police and protesters were reported from Anantnag and Shopian also. Around 80 people have got injured in the clashes.
{{/usCountry}}Police opened fire on a protesting mob at Mazhama village killing one Farooq Ahmad Rather. Clashes between police and protesters were reported from Anantnag and Shopian also. Around 80 people have got injured in the clashes.
{{/usCountry}}The yatra through Bal Tal route has been suspended due to tension in Ganderbal and Kangan, which fall on the route. An official spokesperson on Tuesday evening said the yatra would remain suspended on Wednesday from Pahalgan route as well due melting of a glacier. However, Raj Bhavan, which manages the yatra, remained silent.