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Protests spread in Kashmir, curfew extended to more areas

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Srinagar, India, June 29, IRNA -- Curfew was extended to more towns Tuesday and government was mulling calling in army as violent demonstrations demanding an end to Indian rule were fast spreading to other areas of Kashmir.

Scores of people were injured, two of them critically, as paramilitary forces opened fire and used tear gas this morning to quell demonstrations which have now spread to south Kashmir.

According to reports demonstrations broke out in Anantnag (Islamabad) the biggest city in south Kashmir prompting government forces to swing into action. Two of the wounded rushed to Srinagar for specialized treatment were stated to be in critical condition.

Elsewhere authorities extended curfew to Baramulla town following massive demonstrations and one death in police firing of a 9-year old boy yesterday.

Sopore where three civilians have been killed in paramilitary firing in last three days reels under a strict curfew for the fourth consecutive day.

Curfew has also been clamped in parts of capital Srinagar to prevent major demonstrations as separatist Hurriyat Conference has called upon people to come out of their homes and stage peaceful protests in their respective areas.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who is under house arrest since yesterday, appealed to all sections of the people, including traders and employees, to begin street protests from Tuesday against the repeated killing of civilians by the armed forces. “The state government has admitted now that it has no control over the paramilitary forces, and that they are totally unbridled, leading to the merciless killing of unarmed civilians everyday,” the Mirwaiz said, asking for street protests to draw international attention to the situation in Kashmir.

The Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani revised its protest calendar by calling for a two-day shutdown from Tuesday and marches to historic Shahi Masjid and Eidgah respectively on the following two days. A Hurriyat spokesman said that the government forces had been out of control right from the time they occupied Kashmir, and that pro-India politicians only served to cover up their black deeds.

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End News / IRNA / News Code 1202539