Valley remains on the edge as 20 more injured in violence

SRINAGAR: At least 20 people, including a girl, sustained pellet, bullet and tear gas shell injuries as the Valley continued to remain tense due to clashes between

SRINAGAR: At least 20 people, including a girl, sustained pellet, bullet and tear gas shell injuries as the Valley continued to remain tense due to clashes between security forces and civilians in many areas.

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Huge pro-freedom rallies and candle light protests were held in different places in the summer capital and elsewhere to protest the spate of civilian killings that has enraged the Valley.

Thousands of people visited the “Martyrs Graveyard” at Kareemabad village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district following the separatists’ call to pay tributes to the slain militants.

Reports from the area suggested that banners eulogising militants were put up across the town. Residents had decorated the graveyard and also erected food and water stalls for those visiting the area.

Leaders of both moderate and hardline factions of the Hurriyat Conference, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, remained under house arrest. Also, separatist leader and JKLF chief Yasin Malik was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar after remaining under police custody at Kothibagh police station since July 8.

The two soldiers were martyred while patrolling along line of control (LoC) in Kargil sector when they were caught in a mine blast.

Due to effect of the blast subedar Basappa Patil, who was the patrol leader and sepoy Hasansab Khudavand, the leading scout, suffered grievous injuries, which proved to be fatal.