Srinagar: Amid curfew and restrictions imposed by authorities on Sunday, tense situation prevailed over the Kashmir valley a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat was killed in south Kashmir’s Tral.
Curfew and restrictions were imposed by authorities in major areas of Srinagar and other “sensitive” places in the valley to thwart protests and people from reaching Tral, while a shutdown, called by separatists, was observed over the killing of Sabzar and his associate Faizan Muzaffar of Tral.
Police said that the situation remained “under control, barring minor” incidents of stone pelting at few places.
The two militants were killed by forces in Saimoo village of Tral during an encounter on Saturday. While Faizan was buried in his village in Tral on Saturday evening, Sabzar was buried today forenoon in his native Rathsuna village amid pro-freedom slogans by the mourners. A young civilian, Aqib Rashid, of Khanqah Tral was also killed yesterday near the encounter site, which police said happened due to “crossfire”. However, locals said that he was killed by forces during protests.
The divisional administration had imposed curfew in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma police station areas, while restrictions under section 144 in towns to prevent protests. Mobile internet and phone services were suspended in south Kashmir by the authorities.
As per reports, clashes broke out in Meemander in Shopian and Warpora in Sopore, Trehgam in Kupwara as forces fired teargas shells on protesters to disperse them, while the protesters pelted stones towards the forces, triggering clashes.
Witnesses said that despite restrictions, thousands of people attended the funeral prayers Sabzar. Reports said that some militants also participated and addressed the people during the funeral.
The separatists have called for shutdown for Sunday and Monday against the killing of the militants and the civilian, and ‘Tral Chalo’ on Tuesday.
The authorities had deployed huge contingents of police and paramilitary forces across the valley to enforce strict restrictions. Major roads in towns leading to Tral were sealed with coils of concertina.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Muneer Khan, said that the situation was under control throughout the day as police and security forces were deployed in the valley to maintain law and order.
“Restrictions were imposed in jurisdictions of seven police stations and in districts to maintain law and order. Except for the minor stone pelting incidents took place in Shopian, Warpora, and Tahab, situation remained very well under control,” Khan told KNS.
“Police exercised maximum restraint to prevent injuries on Saturday. However, miscreants pelted stones on security yesterday in which some persons were injured. One person from Mutton was in critical condition yesterday, but today his condition had improved in the hospital and he is out of danger,” the IGP told KNS. (KNS)
