For the first time in two-decade-old turmoil in Kashmir, Srinagar and several other towns were under curfew on Independence Day on Sunday whereas a strike called by separatists continued to disrupt normal life.
In the past, the Valley would normally be shut in response to separatists’ observe Independence Day as “black day” call and security would be beefed up to avert incidents of violence on the eve of the national day. But in view of the heightened tensions persisting in the Valley, the curfew on cities and towns on Friday evening or early Saturday was not lifted.
On Sunday, protesters again took to the streets in different areas of Srinagar, Sopore, Bandipore, Tral and Pampore in defiance of strict curfew and other security restrictions and also at Narbal near here and Sarnal Laazbal in southern Anantnag district where two youth were killed in CRPF firings on Saturday evening. The police and CRPF fired ammunition to break up the protests and stone-throwing mobs at some places including at Sopore where, at least, one person received rubber bullet injury. The Valley has been wracked by months of violent demonstrations and the security in Srinagar and elsewhere was beefed up further for Independence Day on which the separatists had asked the people to observe black day.
In Srinagar and some other Valley areas mobile phones did not work in the morning hours when the official functions and ceremonial parades were underway. The authorities said the brief suspension of services was a security requirement.
However, large number of people attended the celebrations in Jammu where government and several private buildings and public places besides bazaars gave a festive look with the tricolour hoisted up almost everywhere. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen killed a Sopore resident on Saturday night. The police said Abdul Rehman Check was picked up by the gunmen from his home at Check Mohalla and later shot him from point blank range, the murder blamed on militants by it.