2 killed, 19 hurt in fresh violence in Kashmir

Fresh violence in Kashmir today claimed two lives and left 19 others injured in alleged firing by security forces in Pattan and Anantnag towns even as curfew was relaxed in parts of Srinagar, the hub of ongoing protests in the Valley which entered 100th day today.

A youth was killed and four others sustained injuries as security forces allegedly opened fire on a group of persons coming out of a mosque at Palhalan in Pattan area, 32 kms from here, in Baramulla district.

Although local residents alleged that the firing by security forces was unprovoked, a police spokesman said a mob tried to block the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway and started heavy stone pelting on security forces.

"As security forces tried to control the situation, three persons were injured," he said. 

Clashes erupted in south Kashmir Anantnag town, 52 kms from here, after the body of a 10-year-old boy, who was missing since Monday, was fished out from river Jhelum, official sources said.

Thousands of residents of Nathpora in Khanabal and adjoining areas in Anantnag defied curfew and took out a procession with the body of the boy, Maroof Ahmad Nath. 

Maroof had jumped into the river when protestors were allegedly being chased by securitymen during a clash. 

The protestors raised slogans while a section of the crowd started throwing stones targeting the security forces, the sources said. The security personnel first lobbed tear smoke shells and then allegedly opened fire, resulting in injuries to 15 people.

One of the injured persons, identified as Nooruddin Dagga, succumbed at a hospital.

Officials said the protestors threw stones at the house of a Samajwadi Party leader, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, and tried to torch
it when the security forces opened fire.

Another youth, Fayaz Ahmad Naiko, who was injured in stone pelting on Tuesday in Bemina area of the city, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Hospital at Soura.

A youth was injured in police action against a stone pelting mob at Harin in Kupwara district, 100 kms from here, in north Kashmir.

The death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, which entered its 100th day today, climbed to 98 even as curfew continued in most parts of Valley for the sixth consecutive day.

Curfew was, however, relaxed for four hours in southern and eastern parts of Srinagar today, providing much-needed relief to the people in these areas after six days, a police spokesperson said.

Curfew will be relaxed in other parts of the city after assessing the law and order situation in those areas, the spokesman said.

In Batamaloo area of the city curfew was reimposed after a group of youth started pelting stones at security forces. 

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar on Sunday following violent protests and incidents of arson on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. It was extended to the entire Valley the next day as protests and violence spread to other parts of Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a house of a policeman was set on fire by a mob late last night in Pinjoora village in Shopian district in south Kashmir, police said.