Curfew in Jammu & Kashmir village for seventh day following clashes

Curfew continued to remain imposed in a village in Bandipora district of north Kashmir for the seventh day today following last week's sectarian clashes in which four persons were injured.

"Curfew remained in force in Inderkoot village as a precautionary measure," a police spokesperson said.

However, the curfew was lifted from Sumbal town, 40km from Srinagar, and its adjoining areas yesterday following an assurance by community leaders to maintain law and order, he said.

Police had roped in community and religious leaders and prominent political activists to defuse the tension which prevailed in the area after sectarian clashes broke out on December 19.

The curfew was imposed in Sumbal town and adjoining areas including Inderkoot village on December 20 after the clashes.

Four persons were injured in the violence, of which three were wounded when the security personnel guarding the house of political activist Abdul Rehman Kawoosa in Sumbal allegedly opened fire to control a mob that was pelting stones in the evening that day.

While two persons received bullet injuries, another man was injured in stone pelting.

Sectarian clashes broke out in Inderkoot village on December 19 in which one person was injured and a house was partially damaged in arson.

The clashes erupted after a youth belonging to a minority Muslim sect was allegedly severely injured in a thrashing by a youth from the majority sect following an altercation.

Members of the minority sect went on a rampage and allegedly set fire to the kitchen of the house belonging to a member of the majority sect.

Curfew was imposed to bring the situation under control and prevent the clashes from spreading to nearby areas, sources said.

Although no fresh clashes have taken place in the curfew bound areas, tension continues to prevail which has left the authorities with no option but to clamp the restrictions for an indefinite period, officials said

Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly and local MLA Mohammad Akbar Lone Lone chaired a high level meeting of officers and senior citizens of the area on December 24 and appealed to people of the area to maintain peace and extend full cooperation to the administration in maintaining law and order.