Kashmir tense amid violent protests

India's News.Net
Thursday 2nd July, 2009 (IANS)

Over two dozen people were injured in sporadic clashes between the police and stone pelting mobs Thursday in the tense Kashmir Valley where violent protests have been raging since last month over alleged rights abuses and killings by security forces.

Police officials described the overall situation in the valley tense but under control Thursday, a day after the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered central paramilitary troopers to withdraw from the troubled Baramulla town where four youth were killed in firing allegedly by security forces this week.

Protests continued in the curfew-bound north Kashmir's Baramulla town and the situation in south and central parts of the valley was even more tense.

Demonstrations were also held at many places in Srinagar. Mobs protesting against alleged human rights violations threw stones at police.

The protestors were dispersed by police using batons and firing tear smoke shells.

Over two dozen policemen and protesters were injured in the clashes but none of the injured was critical, a police officer said.

Protesters torched a police vehicle in south Kashmir's Pulwama after it hit two youth injuring them critically. The driver of the vehicle was severely beaten up by the mob.

People in Pulwama alleged that paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers beat a muezzin (priest who calls for prayers) inside a mosque in the town.

Meanwhile, police have completely replaced the CRPF in Baramulla. The town on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, 50 km from here, is the first in the Kashmir Valley where paramilitary troopers have been withdrawn.

The sudden decision of troopers' withdrawal comes after union Home Minister P. Chidambaram during his visit to the state last month had said the government was planning to withdraw troops from towns across the valley after a significant fall in terrorist violence.

However, protests have raged in the entire valley since last month. First in Shopian where two women, aged 17 and 22, were found dead May 30. Locals allege they were abducted, raped and killed by security forces.

After the Shopian incident that sparked valley-wide protests came the violence in Baramulla where a woman Monday alleged she was abused by cops in a police station. Police have, however, denied the allegations.

Four protesters were killed since Monday in firing allegedly by CRPF men in Baramulla and neighbouring Sopore town. Police have registered a case of murder against paramilitary troopers reportedly involved in the firing.

A youth, Basharat Ahmad, has been reported missing after he was picked up by an army unit in a south Kashmir village last Sunday.

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