Toll rises to 43 as newspapers set to return in Valley

SRINAGAR: Newspapers are likely to hit the stands in Kashmir on Tuesday after a three-day ban “not approved by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti” even as two civilians

SRINAGAR: Newspapers are likely to hit the stands in Kashmir on Tuesday after a three-day ban “not approved by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti” even as two civilians were killed in a clash with security forces, taking the toll in the ongoing protests to 43.

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Amitabh Mattoo, the chief minister’s political adviser, told NDTV that Mehbooba did not approve of the ban, contradicting an earlier statement of the government spokesman.

Senior minister Nayeem Akhtar had told HT that the “undesirable step was taken to ensure peace” and “to save lives”.

“This is an extraordinary situation. Very strict curfew will be imposed in the city and newspaper distribution will not be possible. So we have asked the newspapers not to publish,” he had said, adding that the ban was only for three days till Monday.

Former CM Omar Abdullah dismissed the government’s claim that Mehbooba was not informed about Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s killing, saying the CM is informed about every encounter involving a high-profile person.

Meanwhile, a senior journalist at the Valley’s largest circulating daily Greater Kashmir confirmed that newspapers would hit the stands on Tuesday.

The uneasy calm prevailing in the Valley on Monday was short-lived as two civilians were killed and seven injured in retaliatory firing after protesters pelted stones at a 9RR Army patrol in Churat Qazigund in South Kashmir, police said. The deceased were identified as 25-year-old Showkat Ahmad and 45-year-old Saida.

The fresh killings took the death toll in ongoing protests to 43, excluding two people who drowned and one who died when his car overturned while fleeing from a spot where police and protesters had clashed.

While most areas remained peaceful, sporadic incidents were reported at several places in north Kashmir, including Trehgam in Kupwara district, and Sopore and Rafiabad in Baramulla district, a police official said.

“All 10 districts of Kashmir Valley continue to remain under curfew today as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order,” he added.

Normal life remained paralysed due to the curfew and the strike call by separatists, which has been extended till July 22.

Schools and colleges, which were scheduled to reopen on Monday after a 17-day summer vacation, remained closed as the government extended the holidays by a week in view of the prevailing situation.

Rumours had a field day in the absence of newspapers and internet, as unconfirmed stories of a PDP MLA being injured in an attack by protesters and a policeman dying, did the rounds.

The government claimed the reports were just rumours and asserted that the legislator had been injured in a road accident.

The police constable, rumoured to be dead in Kulgam, was not dead but critical, an official press statement later clarified.