Srinagar: Protesters ton Saturday attacked police posts and security personnel in several areas and targeted BJP office in Kulgam as violence broke out in Kashmir Valley, a day after Burhan Wani, a poster boy of militant outfit Hizbul Mujhaideen, was killed in an encounter.
11 persons including three policemen were injured in the clashes in the Valley where curfew-like restrictions were imposed, including in Srinagar city, and Amarnath Yatra was suspended as a precautionary measure. Top separatist leaders, who had given a strike call, were put under house arrest.
Groups of youths pelted stones at police posts and police stations at Bandipora, Qazigund and Larnoo in Anantnag district, a police official said.
He said a mob also attacked BJP office in Nilo-Bugam area of Kulgam district and damaged the building. Violent protests were also held in Mir Bazaar and Damhaal Hanjipora in Kulgam district and Warpora in Sopore township of Baramulla district.
The police picket guarding minority community in Vessu area of south Kashmir was also attacked, the official said. Stone pelting incidents were also reported from Sheeri, Kreeri, Delina, Pattan and Palhalan areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said, adding Barsoo and Shariefabad in Awantipora area of south Kashmir also saw violent protests. He said “so far 11 persons including three policemen have received injuries during the clashes which were going on when reports last came in”.
In Wani’s native place in Tral, a large number of people participated in funeral prayers.
An official said that security personnel deployed in the area have been withdrawn in view of the situation prevailing there. Mobile internet across Kashmir was suspended while mobile telephony services were restricted in south Kashmir. Authorities have suspended Amarnath yatra from Jammu base camp to base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam in the Valley which has been gripped by tension.
Train services between Baramulla in Kashmir and Banihal across the Pir Panjal mountain range have also been suspended for the day as the trains have been targeted by mobs in the past. Shops, private offices, business establishments and petrol pumps were shut, while government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance.
Public transport was off the roads. Educational institutions in the Valley were closed on account of the ongoing summer vacations. Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and Central University of Kashmir have postponed examinations scheduled for today. (PTI)
