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Curfew in Valley enters Day 29, Oppn urges talks with separatists
SRINAGAR: Almost a month after the killing of Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 56 deaths in protest and 29 days of curfew, peace still remains
SRINAGAR: Almost a month after the killing of Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 56 deaths in protest and 29 days of curfew, peace still remains elusive in the Valley.
On Friday, fresh clashes between security forces and civilians led to three deaths. This comes a day after forces opened fire on protesters following Friday prayers, which left hundreds injured.
In Anantnag district, residents said scores of civilians, including women, were injured after forces fired tear gas shells and pellets to stop people from organising a rally. Local reports put the number of injured at 40 while health officials refused to divulge the numbers.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani accused police of resorting to pellet shelling “without any provocation” injuring some women as well “who were hit in their private parts”.
In the nearby Pulwama district, residents said that forces ransacked a tent meant to host a protest rally in Babgam and also allegedly beat the protesters.
Meanwhile, Shopian witnessed clashes between protesters and security forces.
Independent MLA Engineer Abdul Rasheed was detained after he took out a march to United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office, demanding a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, opposition parties in the state urged the Centre to immediately start talks with separatists. While National Conference president Omar Abdullah deplored Narendra Modi’s s ilence, Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said the NDA government has already lost “precious time in procrastination in recognising the reality in Kashmir”.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister, informing him that the situation is turning “too dangerous” and demanded urgent ste ps to restore peace in the valley. Azad also reminded Modi of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s doctrine of “Insaaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat” to address the Kashmir problem.
