Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Curfew continues in Srinagar; toll rises to six

The Times of India, August 26, 2008


Curfew continues in Srinagar
A woman speaks to a cop on the third day of a curfew in Srinagar. (Reuters Photo)
SRINAGAR: A person injured in clashes in the Kashmir Valley died early Tuesday taking the toll in the ongoing violence in the region since Sunday to six as curfew remained clamped for the third consecutive day.

Bashir Ahmad Bahar, who was injured in firing by security forces at Hajan in Bandipora district on Monday succumbed to injuries at a hospital here this morning, official sources said.

Four persons were killed and 80 injured in escalating violence in the Valley on Monday when security forces opened fire on curfew-defying protesters at several parts of the state.

One person was killed in security forces firing in Dalgate area of the city on Sunday, when authorities imposed curfew in all 10 districts of the Valley.

The stone-pelting protesters were shot when security forces tried to disperse those who rallied across the Kashmir valley defying curfew in all its ten districts.

The authorities arrested top separatist leaders including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and JKLF leader Mohammad Yaseen Malik in a midnight swoop on Sunday to prevent them from organising a march to Lal Chowk.

Police also conducted raids at many places and picked up a dozen second rung separatist leaders. Army was assisting police in all districts barring Srinagar to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, for the second consecutive day today, the local newspapers failed to hit stands in view of the curfew, after 17 media persons were allegedly thrashed by personnel of the law enforcing agencies on Monday.

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