For the third day in a row, Kashmir continued to remain on the edge with death toll mounting to 30 while as over 400 others were injured in different violence related incidents since the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on Friday.
Curfew continued to remain imposed in south Kashmir and other parts of the Valley for the third day. Despite curfew, clashes, protests and arson was reported from different parts of the valley. However around 25,000 stranded Amarnath yatris were safely sent back to their homes from Pahalgam and Baltal base camps.
For the third day e-curfew remained in force with mobile internet being snapped across the Valley. South Kashmir remained cut off as the authorities have suspended mobile telephon. However BSNL network was restored in parts of south Kashmir on Monday afternoon.
Nine more injured persons succumbed to their wounds taking the death toll to 30, although the official figures are still putting the number of dead at less than 25 in the valley. Over 400 people including police and paramilitary soldiers have been injured in the clashes since Saturday. There was no fresh causality reported from anywhere though.
"In the last three days, five people have died in our hospital. Around 202 injured have been treated in our hospital in the last three days. Some of them are being discharged. We received 14 injured today (Monday)," Dr Nazir Ahmad Chaudhary, medical superintendent of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, told dna.
Police said the situation in the Valley remained under control though incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported from different areas on Monday.
"Unruly mobs set on fire Police Post Fruit Mandi Sopore and Police Post Litter. A number of police establishments were also attacked by hooligans. The police and para military personnel deployed exhibited maximum restraint while dealing with the situation," a police spokesman said.
Police said militants fired upon police and CRPF personnel deployed for law and order duties which resulted in injuries to three persons at Zirpora village of Bijbehara in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
Police noted all the stranded yatris at base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam left for Jammu.
"About 25,000 pilgrims boarding 1,612 vehicles from Baltal and 129 vehicles from Pahalgam crossed the Jawahar Tunnel this morning," said the spokesman.
Police said yatra resumed from Baltal and Pahalgam towards holy cave this morning. "Till 1200 hours, 2,462 yatris left these camps for darshan on Monday. The air services are also going normally and 449 pilgrims left for darshan by air. Around 2,799 pilgrims had darshan at the holy cave on Monday," said the spokesman.
Under fire, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti send SOS to civil society to help in restoration of peace and normalcy in Kashmir in a bid to prevent further loss of precious lives and destruction of public and private properties.
"I appeal all sections of the society including the political leaders, media, the religious heads, the business community and the prominent citizens to rise to the occasion and help the government in restoring peace and normalcy in the Kashmir," she said.
Mehbooba said the police and the paramilitary forces have been asked to exercise maximum restrain to avoid loss of lives or grievous injuries.
Without naming anyone, Mehbooba said some elements are hell bent upon fomenting trouble, mayhem and bloodshed in Kashmir for their vested interests and are playing with the lives of the innocent youth by instigating them to indulge in extreme violence resulting in a vicious cycle of frenzy and bloodshed.
"While certain quarters are only interested in playing politics over the dead bodies of the youth, it is the family members of these slain youth who have to live with this pain forever," she said
Chief minister said imposing restrictions in prevailing circumstances has become an inevitability to avoid violent protests and consequent loss of precious human lives. "We prefer imposing restrictions rather than putting the lives of people at risk," she said
Joint leadership of separatists have extended the strike for another two days.
Mob pelted stones on Indian Army force base at Quil in Awantipora on Sunday evening. However there was no breach at the strategic airbase
Divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hussain Samoon said 1,365 persons were injured in the clashes since Friday. Of whom 279 have been referred to Srinagar hospitals for specialised treatment. Samoon however put the death toll at 22.
Meanwhile, defence spokesman Colonel NN Joshi has refuted the reports that Indian Air Force base was attacked by a stone pelting mob at Quil Awantipora. "There was nothing (no attack) on the base. It could be some area near the airbase but not on the airbase," he told dna.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kashmir")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}