Uprising Again in Kashmir
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* Clashes, protests rock Valley*
* CRPF bunker demolished in Qamarwari*
* Police gypsy burnt in Pulwama*
* 18 injured in clashes in Islamabad*
* Grand Mufti Bandipora hurt in police action
Mir TariqSrinagar, Aug 11: The early 1990 like situation was rekindled in Srinagar and other parts of Valley on Monday with lakhs of people participating in “Muzaffarabad March” to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in view of the continued economic blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway by rightwing Hindu activists.Thousands of people from different parts of city tried to march towards Baramulla. Carrying placards and banners, the protestors, raising anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, reached Qamarwari, where they were intercepted by police and CRPF personnel. The protestors, who were led by Javed Ahmed Mir, Advocate Shahid ul Islam and Ghulam Muhammad Mir were asked to move back by the cops. They, however, refused and continued to march ahead amidst pro-freedom slogans.
Raising anti-India, BJP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and Advani slogans, the protestors hoisted white flags bearing “the Islamic Kalima” and name of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and appealed cops to let them move ahead. The cops swung into action and snatched the flag from them and resorted to heavy charge. They also fired numerous tear gas shells to disperse the agitating people, who withstood the ground and refused to leave the place.The infuriated protestors demolished a CRPF bunker in Qamarwari chowk and managed to move towards the Parimpora Fruit Mandi.A convoy of lawyers affiliated with High Court Bar Association also crossed Qamarwari Chowk as protestors provided shield to them.The protestors were again intercepted by police and CRPF personnel near Parimpora Fruit Mandi. The cops lobbed tear gas shells and fired towards the peaceful protestors, causing injuries to scores of people. One of them later succumbed to injuries.Police also opened fire on the procession of Dukhataran-e-Millat at Chota Bazar. Several persons including Dukhtaran chairperson Asia Andrabi were injured. They were hospitalized.Police and CRPF had erected blockades at Qamarwari, Parimpora, Shalteng, Lawaypora, Narbal, Mirgund, Parihaspora to prevent people from marching towards Muzaffarabad. However, they were unable to control the situation as lakhs of people joined the march towards Muzaffarabad.After the news about death of protestors in police firing reached Srinagar, youth took to roads at several places and clashed with police and CRPF personnel. The clashes continued throughout the day.Clashes rock Pulwama, ShopianAt least 42 persons including 10 policemen were injured in day long clashes at different places in south Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama districts.The clashes started early morning at Samboora, when police tried to stop demonstrators from Pulwama, who were marching towards Parimpora in response to the call for “Muzafarrabad March”. Raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the demonstrators had gathered inside the Fruit Mandi, Pulwama.Eyewitnesses said that police and CRPF troopers fired dozens of tear smoke canisters and resorted to heavy cane charge to disperse the protesters. They also fired bullets towards the protestors. At least 20 persons were injured in the police action.Angered by the police action, angry mob attacked a police picket at Kakapora and set ablaze a police gypsy parked near the picket. They also clashed with police, who fired tear smoke shells to disperse the agitating people.People in hundreds took to roads in Pulwama and staged massive anti-government rally. Carrying placards and banners, the protestors clashed with police, who prevented them from moving ahead. Dozens of tear smoke shells were fired on the protestors by the police. Scores of people were injured in the police actionFour persons were injured when police used force to disperse the protestors from Trichal, Litter, Tahab, and Tumla Hall areas of Pulwama. The injured were hospitalized.In Murran two persons Abdul Gani Ganai and Khazer Moahmmad Ganai were injured critically when police opened fire on mob, which allegedly tried to snatch weapons from the police personnel in the area.Massive protests were also witnessed in Achhgoz, Kellar, Takan, Beloo, Keegam, Nallah Rambiaarah and Gagren villages.The district hospital Pulwama was packed with injured persons. The doctors said that of the 32 injured admitted in the hospital, nine had received bullet injuries.Meanwhile 13 persons including six policemen were injured in violent clashes in Shopian. The injured have been hospitalized.Reports further said that angry mob threw police gypsy of police station Shopian into water after vandalizing it.In Keegam, Shopian a vehicle belonging to the SP Shopian was set ablaze by the protesters while the vehicle of Assistant Commissioner was damaged.The violent clashes were also witnessed between protestors and policemen at Tral and Pampore. Police and para-military personnel stopped people from marching towards Srinagar.Islamabad witnesses massive protestsAt least 18 persons were injured during the day long clashes between police and protesters in Islamabad.According to reports about 15,000 to 20,000 people led by district president Hurriyat (G) Hafizullah, district president Hurriyat (M) Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar and Mirwaiz South Qazi Yasir assembled near Masjid Noor, K P Road and started marching towards Srinagar.Raising pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, the protestors were intercepted by police and CRPF troopers near Khanabal and baton charged. The mob dispersed and regrouped later. The ding dong battles between the protestors and police men continued throughout the day.Reports said that thousands of protestors from Kulgam, Damhal Hanjipora were stooped at Nihama bridge, where police and CRPF personnel had placed barbed wire to prevent them from reaching Srinagar and participating in Muzaffarabad March.Protests in Bandipora tooAt least 12 persons including Grand Imam and four policemen were injured in clashes in Bandipora.At least 4000 protesters in Ashtango, Aloosa and Kehnusa area of Bandipora gathered on the roads early morning and staged a protest march in order to reach Sangrama, Sopore.The police and paramilitary personnel intercepted the protestors raising pro-freedom, pro-Islamic, anti-India and anti-BJP slogans at Kehnusa Bridge and prevented them from moving ahead. This infuriated the protestors, who pelted stones and empty bottles on the cop. They retaliated by firing tear smoke shells and resorting to baton charge to disperse the agitating people. The clashes continued for nearly two hours during which 12 persons including four policemen and Grand Imam of Bandipora were injured.Some of the protestors managed to give slip to the police and para-military personnel and reached Sopore. They burnt effigies of BJP, NCP and PDP leaders amid slogans like 'Bandh Rastay khol do khol do (open the closed rood) and Sayast Kari Nahin Chaley Gi Nahin Chaley Gi and we want freedom. They were demanding action against the rioters who destroyed property of Muslims in Jammu and who attacked Kashmiri drivers and their vehicles.The protestors alleged that police used force even on the female protestors. “Police fired tear smoke shells directly on us, injuring scores of us,” they said adding, “They beat the protestors including women with gunbutts"."We will march towards Muzaffarabad. Police are acting as the agents of BJP,” said Ghulam Hassan, 65, who was heading around 5000 protestors towards MuzaffarabadReports further said that people in hundreds participated in protest rallies at Hajin, Sumbal, Arin and Ajas. Police and para-military personnel did not allow them to move ahead and the protestors dispersed off peacefully.