Kangan youth among several persons injured in fresh clashes; schools, colleges to remain closed; KU postpones exams scheduled on Tuesday
Srinagar: Kashmir Valley on Monday observed a complete shutdown against Shopian killings even as authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and south Kashmir. Nearly two dozen persons were injured in fresh clashes in many parts of Valley while a 22-year-old youth was injured critically at Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Locals allege that the youth, Gowhar Ahmad Rather son of Abdul Rehman suffered bullet injuries, police denied it.
Locals said that there were clashes at Kangan area and government forces resorted to teargas shells, pellets and opened few rounds.
One of the youth Gowhar Ahmad Rather son of Abdul Rehman suffered critical head injuries and has been admitted to SKIMS Soura.
An official of the local police station said that it is being investigated as to how the youth suffered injuries.
“Today on 02-03-2018 a group of miscreants had gathered in Kangan market to pelt stones and disturb law and order in the area. A police party reached the spot on seeing which the miscreants started running during the course of which a boy Gowhar Ahmad Rather son Abdur Rahman Rather of Kangan fell down and injured his head on the edge of the drain,” a police spokesman said.
He said the injured person was taken to Trauma Hospital Kangan from where he was referred to SKIMS Soura. “Reports regarding bullet injury are completely false since no bullet was fired on the spot,” the spokesman added.
Medical Superintendent of SKIMS Soura Dr. Farooq Jan confirmed that Gowhar was received in critical conditions and is being treated.
“His condition is very bad,” Medical Superintended said. Asked whether he has been hit by bullet or cause of injury is something else, the Medical Superintended said: I can’t say anything right now.
Reports of minor clashes were received from several parts of Valley including Memendar, Zainpora, Kellar, Gool Chakri Shopian, Beerwah Budgam, Bandipora, Sumbal, Safapora, Soura, Parimpora, Pinglina Chowk Pulwama and Kulgam. While nearly 15 persons were suffered minor injuries at Kulgam and Anatnag, at least six persons suffered pellet wounds at Gool Chakri, they said.
The authorities had also closed colleges and schools while Kashmir University and CUK postponed all exams scheduled for the day. Train services also remained suspended even as internet services were completely blocked in most parts of Kashmir Valley.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) had called for the Valley-wide shutdown to protests against killing of thirteen militants and four civilians.
Shops and business establishments remained closed in the entire Valley while public transport was off the roads due to the strike, reports quoting eyewitnesses said.
Also, to thwart the protests, authorities had put parts of Srinagar including Old City and Maisuma under strict restrictions.
Similarly, curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Kulgam town of south Kashmir to prevent people from staging protests against the killings, official sources said. A police officer told GNS that the decision was taken to maintain “law and order.”
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in several areas of Ramban district against the Shopian killings.
Reports said the highway town of Banihal, Khari, Tethar and Chareel in Ramban district observed complete shutdown to mourn the death of 17 people, including 13 militants, in three separate gunfights.
All business establishments and schools remained closed while local transport remained off the roads in these areas, reports said.
Contingents of police were deployed in these areas to prevent protests, they said.
Internet services remained blocked in Shopian, Pulwama and Srinagar since last evening while as speed was reduced to 2G elsewhere.
A railway official here told GNS that train services were suspended and the decision was taken in wake of the apprehensions of law and order in the Valley.
The schools and colleges also remained closed. All examinations of CUK and KU scheduled for were cancelled.
Kashmir University on Monday announced cancellation of all examinations scheduled for tomorrow. The varsity also suspended class work.
“In view of concerns expressed by students, all Kashmir University examinations scheduled to be held on April 3, 2018 (Tuesday) are postponed. Fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified separately, later,” reads a statement issued by the varsity.
“Meanwhile, the classwork in the teaching departments shall remain suspended on April 3, 2018,” the statement added.
The government has also decided to keep all schools and colleges in Kashmir Valley closed on Tuesday as well.
A spokesman of the education department said that the decision has been taken as a “precautionary measure” to avoid law and order situation in the Valley. (GNS)
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