Kashmir on the edge, toll rises to 15

SRINAGAR - The toll in four days of violence in the Kashmir Valley rose to 15 with a youth succumbing to injuries Monday, when mobs once again gathered at many places in Srinagar defying curfew orders. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah left for New Delhi as separatists called for yet another protest march.

Tahir Ahmad, a youth who was hit by a tear smoke shell in south Kashmir Bijbehara town July 31, died in hospital Monday, police said.

Three protesters, including a girl, Afroza Bano, were killed in police firing Sunday when rampaging mobs attacked two police stations in south Kashmir Pulwama district.

While two people were killed in police firing in Pampore town, 17-year old Afroza was killed when an unruly mob attacked the Khrew police post adjacent to Pampore town in Pulwama.

“A rampaging mob entered the police post in Khrew after setting fire to it yesterday (Sunday) evening. Explosives stored in the police post caught fire resulting in a massive blast, killing five protesters and injuring 35 others,” a police officer said here.

Authorities tried to enforce a Valley wide curfew to prevent large-scale violence, but mobs started gathering at many places in summer capital Srinagar in the morning itself, defying curfew orders.

Omar Abdullah, meanwhile, rushed to New Delhi to discuss the law and order situation with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and other senior officials.

Abdullah had made a passionate appeal for restoration of calm in the Valley cutting across party lines Sunday evening through local radio and television channels.

He also appealed to both his mainstream and separatist opponents to lend a helping hand in bringing the situation under control.

The hardline faction of the spearatist Hurriyat Conference headed by Syed Ali Geelani, however, called for yet another protest march in Srinagar.

While people living in central Kashmir districts of Srinagar and Badgam have been asked to march to Srinagar’s Chanapora locality, those in north Kashmir Baramulla and Kupwara districts have been asked to march to Sopore. Residents of south Kashmir have been urged to march to Tral town.

“Things seem to be getting out of hand for the government as public frenzy spreads from north to south of the Valley,” said the editor of a local daily newspaper.

Sunday was the bloodiest day in the Valley in recent months as violence spread to south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam.

Frenzied mobs torched government offices, police camps and vehicles in south Kashmir areas after blocking the strategic Jammu-Srinagar by felling trees and erecting barricades of stones.

An executive magistrate’s residence-cum-office, a public works department office, three government vehicles, a fire tender and two police camps were torched by mobs in south Kashmir Sunday.

On Friday, two people each were killed in north Kashmir’s Sopore and Pattan towns when security forces opened fire on violent protesters. Two more protesters were shot dead Saturday in north Kashmir’s Baramulla and Bandipora districts.

The valley has been on the boil due to violent protests against civilians being killed in firing by security forces since June 11.