No violence in Kashmir, curfew partially lifted

SRINAGAR - No major incident of violence was reported from anywhere in the Kashmir Valley Saturday and authorities lifted curfew from parts of Srinagar and three major towns. Another injured youth succumbed to his injuries, taking to 49 the toll in the violence since June 11.

Residents in curfew-bound areas complained of acute shortages of essential commodities, while fuel supplies to the Valley remained suspended for the fifth day Saturday as the oil tankers association refused to bring in fuel supplies from Jammu.

Curfew had initially been relaxed in nine police station areas in Srinagar city for two hours in the morning.

“Following improvement in the situation, curfew relaxation was extended till this evening in nine police station areas in Srinagar and later it was decided to completely lift curfew from these areas,” a senior police officer said here.

Curfew has also been lifted from north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Handwara town and central Badgam district.

It, however, continued without any relaxation in the old city areas of Srinagar, as well as Baramulla, Sopore and Kupwara in north Kashmir besides Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam towns in south Kashmir.

For the first time since July 30, when tensions heightened here following critical injuries to a protesting youth in Chanapora area of Srinagar, no injuries were sustained by anybody during protests held at many places in the Valley which generally remained peaceful.

A 22-year old youth, critically injured in security force firing in Sopore town Friday, succumbed to injuries in a hospital here taking the death toll of civilians killed here in police firings since July 30 to 32.

“Rameez Ahmad Rishi, 22, who was injured in Sopore town yesterday (Friday) when unruly mobs attacked the Warpora police post succumbed to injuries this morning,” a senior police officer said here.

Meanwhile, residents hoped for an early lifting of the restrictions.

“There is just a day’s ration left in my house. We are a family of five and unless I am able to buy foodstuffs, cooking gas, edible oil etc I am afraid my family would starve,” said Maqsood Ahmad, 45, who lives in the old city area of Srinagar.

Most petrol pumps, especially in central Kashmir’s Badgam district, were running dry for the last two days, as the oil tankers organisation refused to bring in more supplies unless they were compensated for the damage suffered by them during protests and given security cover in the future.

The separatist Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani has asked people to resume normal life for a day Sunday in order to buy essential supplies.