Srinagar, Oct 05 (KNS): A complete shutdown was observed on the 89th consecutive day in Kashmir on Wednesday while the reports of clashes and protests were reported from several areas throughout the day.
Meanwhile, all the educational institutions, petrol pumps, business establishments and other establishments remained closed during the day.
However, the uptown areas of Srinagar and commercial hub Lal Chowk continued to witness considerable movement of traffic during the day.
Meanwhile, reports of clashes and protests were reported from different areas today.
As per KNS correspondent, clashes erupted between youth and forces in Magarmal Bagh area of Srinagar during which forces used scores of tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth.
The youth assembled in the area and tried to carry out a protest march but forces came and fired tear gas canisters to disperse the youth triggering clashes in the area.
Meanwhile, reports of minor clashes were also reported from several old city areas during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the youth.
The rest of the areas in central Kashmir observed complete shutdown.
All the shops, business establishments and educational institutes remained closed while the traffic was thin on roads.
Meanwhile in South Kashmir, reports quoting police officials said that militants attacked the residence of a ruling PDP MLA in Shopian town of Kashmir by lobbing a grenade at it.
However, there was no damage due to the explosion that took place last night.
A police official said that “Militants hurled a grenade at the residence of MLA Shopian Mohammad Yousuf Bhat at 11:10 PM last night.”
He said the grenade landed in the compound of the house and exploded without causing any damage.
Meanwhile, local sources informed KNS that clashes erupted between youth and forces in Goriwan and Arwani areas of Bijbehara town during which forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth.
They informed KNS that one person sustained injuries in hand and was shifted to Sub District Hospital Bijbehara for treatment.
Meanwhile the hospital sources said that after treatment, the injured youth was discharged later.
Meanwhile, besides observing complete shutdown, reports of clashes were also reported from several other areas.
Similar reports were also received from north Kashmir districts while clashes and protests were also reported from some areas.
Reports said that forces used tear gas canisters in to a rally of women in North Kashmir’s Kupwara town.
The youth resorted to stone pelting this morning. “Soon, men in uniform reached the spot and fired scores of tear gas canisters to disperse off the protestors,” reports quoting local sources said.
They said that soon a rally of women came out from Malik Mohalla I main town. “But forces resorted to tear gas shelling and did not allow them to come on main road,” locals said.
On late Tuesday evening, many private vehicles came under stone pelting attack in Kupwara which were partially damaged, locals said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Meanwhile, reports said that in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district; at least three youths were arrested by forces when clashes erupted in the district. Another three persons, including a News Reporter, were injured in the pellet firing by forces.
Reports quoting sources said that people came out on roads on Wednesday morning raising pro-freedom slogans.
However, an army convoy passed through Gulshan Chowk which came under stone pelting attack. “The army men came down and resorted to aerial firing,” local reports said.
Meanwhile, the local reports said, forces reached the spot and fired tear gas shells to disperse off the protestors.
The sources said that forces ransacked scores of residential houses in the town as well.
Meanwhile, reports said that at least three civilians sustained injuries in the Bandipora clashes.
One of the injured persons included a Kashmir Convener Reporter, Waheed Bhat.
Reports said that Waheed, a reporter said, “I received pellet injuries in my left leg and foot.” He was locally treated and is ‘fine’.
Meanwhile, reports said that forces arrested nearly 18 boys of North Kashmir from Srinagar city during a nocturnal raid last night.
According to locals, forces arrived in the Armwari Rajbagh area of Srinagar city in the middle of the night and raided two houses.
Locals said that two police parties from Sumbal and Rajbagh raided the two houses at Armwari and arrested 18 boys, all hailing from Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Locals said that these youth were staying in two rented houses and were labourers, a charge that was refuted by police who claimed that they were all known stone-pelters evading arrest from past one month.
Reports quoting a police official said that they were all evading arrest from past one month. “These stone-pelters are not only responsible for the loot and arson of private and public property but they have also attacked a police officer,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the situation across the valley remained by and large peaceful although a couple of stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from Arwani in Anantnag and from main Chowk Bandipora.
According to the statement, during the day normal flow of traffic and movement of people was observed in Srinagar and other parts of the valley. “Vendors in good numbers were on the streets. Normal movement of vehicles was seen in the main towns and on the inter district roads of the valley,” it said.
The statement said that the miscreants involved in the incidents of setting on fire two autorickshaws yesterday in Srinagar are being identified and adequate compensation is being paid to the auto owners.
Meanwhile, according to the statement, in its continuous and sustained drive against the trouble mongers police during last 24 hours arrested 76 such people involved in various offences of disturbing public order in different parts of the valley. (KNS)