Stray violence in Srinagar, life crippled across Kashmir

SRINAGAR - Stray incidents of violence were reported from Srinagar Monday as a separatist shutdown and strict restrictions by the authorities crippled life in the city and across the Kashmir Valley, a day after protests over a man’s death sparked widespread street clashes.

Stone-pelting youth clashed with the police and the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at Nishat, Buchpora, Safa Kadal and Chattabal areas of the city.

Security officials said their forces exercised restraint while dealing with the situation although restrictions were strictly imposed in old city areas of the city, where police and CRPF disallowed any vehicular or pedestrian movement.

Major traffic intersections had been blocked by using coils of razor-fitted concertina wire in the old city, which had witnessed massive violence Sunday in the wake of the killing of a youth, Javaid Ahmad Mall, 26.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Triparthi told reporters that a mob had attacked a bunker of 161 Battalion of the CRPF in Waniyar (Noorbagh) area of the city and tryied to torch it.

“The CRPF troopers opened fire in self-defence,” he said.

Reports reaching here from other major and minor towns of the Valley indicated the separatist shutdown call had total response there as well.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who summoned senior officers of the local police and the paramilitary forces, asserted that the standing operating procedures must be followed while dealing with the situation and abuse of human rights would not be tolerated.

Abdullah, however, added that a few miscreants had been trying to hostage normal life in Srinagar and such elements would be booked by his government.

In a telephonic message, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani extended his shutdown call to Tuesday and asked people to observe a complete shutdown followed by protests outside the local mosques against violation of human rights in Kashmir.