Srinagar, July 1: The uneasy calm prevails in India Kashmir as the indefinite curfew imposed by the authorities continues without any relaxation.
The authorities had imposed curfew and security restrictions in Sopore and Baramulla township in North Kashmir on Friday last (June 25) after two youth were killed in paramilitary soldiers firing. Three more youth died in the paramilitary soldiers firing in North Kashmir in next two days, triggering more anti-India protests across Kashmir.
On Tuesday, police and paramilitary soldiers fired on unarmed protestors in Islamabad, some 60 kms south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir and killed three youth. As the youth of entire South Kashmir came out on roads to protest the killings, the authorities imposed curfew in South Kashmir on Tuesday evening and no relaxation has been given as yet.
The authorities have also imposed curfew in eight police stations areas in old city while police and paramilitary soldiers enforce tough restrictions in other parts of the summer capital and were not allowing assembly of more than four persons.
The residents of the curfew-hit areas are facing shortage of essentials. “We are facing shortage of food stuff as our stocks have exhausted and we are unable to purchase the essentials owing to tough curfew restrictions,” said people of North Kashmir’s Sopore township, where the authorities have not relaxed curfew since Friday evening.
The civil authorities have sought help of army in dealing with the volatile situation in North Kashmir. The army has been conducting flag march in Baramulla and Sopore townships in North Kashmir since yesterday.
However, the angry youth continue to defy curfew and security restrictions across Kashmir and stage pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. The youth were demanding action against the police and paramilitary soldiers involved in recent killing of youth. However, they were dispersed by cops, who resorted to baton charge and fired numerous tear gas shells.
The authorities Thursday foiled proposed women march called by the separatists against the continued killings. Hundreds of police and paramilitary soldiers armed with riot gears did not allow any women or men to walk on roads without curfew pass. The contingents of women police were also deployed in some sensitive areas in Srinagar to foil women march.
However, some women including woman separatist leader Asiya Andrabi (chairperson Dukhtaran-e-Millat) succeeded in breaching the police cordon and tried to take out the march. However, they were intercepted by police men and dispersed.
The life in Indian Kashmir has come to a standstill since Friday last. Since then eight youth including a minor have died in police and paramilitary firing across Kashmir triggering massive anti-India protests.
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National Turk / India – Faiz Ahmad
