Kashmir faces fresh round of tension after youth succumbs to pellet wounds

“Curfew has been imposed in Harwan area of Srinagar city on Saturday morning while it remains in force in five police station areas of downtown (interior areas) city and Batamaloo,” a police official said. 

A pellet-ridden body of a youth was found in Harwan area of the city late on Friday night. He was allegedly injured in security forces action on protesters during the clashes in the area on Friday. Normal life in the violence-hit valley remained paralysed for the 71st consecutive day due to restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. The official said curfew was also enforced in the towns of Badgam in central Kashmir and Pulgam in south. 

Restrictions on assembly of people continued in the rest of the valley to maintain law and order, he said.

The separatists have extended the protest programme till September 22. They have not announced any relaxation in the strike even in the evening hours. 

Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps continued to remain shut while public transport was off the roads. 

Schools, colleges and other education institutions also remained closed due to the strike called by the separatist to protest the deaths of civilians. 

As many as 81 people including two policemen have been killed in the unrest that broke out a day after Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani was gunned down in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.