15 injured in clashes in Kashmir

Srinagar : Clashes between stone-pelting mobs and the security forces continued Wednesday at many places in Kashmir leaving 15 people injured, including seven security force personnel, even as curfew continued in many Srinagar areas and other parts of the Valley.

“Stone-pelting mobs clashed with the security forces in Batamaloo, Bemina, Parimpora, Zakoora, Soura, Nowhatta, Padshashi Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar and a couple of other places in Srinagar city,” police here said.

“Mobs also clashed with the security forces in Sangam Batapora in Anantnag, Narbal in Badgam, Cement Bridge, Khanpora in Baramulla, Rahpora Qiomoh in Kulgam and Trehgam in Kupwara district. The security forces exercised maximum restraint while chasing away the mobs,” police said.

Eight civilians and seven security men, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured in the clashes, according to police sources.

In the morning, authorities imposed curfew in police station areas of Nowhatta, Khanyar, M.R. Gunj, Rainawari, Safakadal, Zadibal, Kralkhud and Maisuma in Srinagar and Kulgam, Baramulla, Trehgam and Sopore towns.

In another incident, doctors in Srinagar carried out a protest alleging that security forces had roughed up doctors in old city areas while they were going to attend their duties.

Mobs continued to defy curfew restrictions in Baramulla town attacking the security forces with stones where a 24-year-old youth, identified as Tahir Lateef Sofi, died in a firing incident Tuesday.

Police have already registered a first information report against those involved in the firing incident. The army has also ordered a time-bound enquiry into the firing incident although an army spokesman Tuesday denied that the army was involved.

Major General V.G. Khandarey, the division commander stationed in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, told reporters that a time-bound enquiry had been ordered into the death of the Baramulla youth.

The officer said that if any lapses were committed by an army personnel, he would be punished as per laid-down procedure.