Four killed, 9 injured in fresh Kashmir violence, toll touches 64

One person was killed when security forces opened fire at protesters after clashes with them in Srinagar’s Batamaloo area this evening.

A senior police officer in the region and witnesses told AFP that forces fired live rounds during the protests that also left eight people injured.

Top government sources said keeping in view the fact that militants had stepped up attacks on security forces, it has been chose to enforce round-the-clock curfew at many places in the Valley. Official sources said that there were night-long demonstration at several places in the Kashmir valley to prevent security forces to arrest youths, allegedly involved in stone pelting.

Two other youths sustained bullet injuries.

Stringent security arrangements were put in place for the Independence Day celebrations but militants struck in Nowhatta area of the city, killing a CRPF officer and injuring nine other security personnel. Of the seven injured in Army firing at Larkipora Dooru, one Aamir Yusuf Ganai of Nayidgam Dooru died. More than 400 injured civilians including children have received pellet injuries in their eyes and a lot of them may lose their eyesight partially or completely.

Normal life remained paralysed in the Valley for the 38th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatists-backed strikes following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with the security forces on July 8.

The minister was briefed by officials on the situation in Kashmir and the infiltration bids from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the curfew and shutdown entered 39 day today while clashes and protests continue in Valley parts.

Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer and Yasin Malik have extended their strike call till August 18 and called for march towards the United Nations office in Srinagar on August 17.

The separatists have threatened a 72-hour sit-in protests if their proposed march to the United Nations office is not allowed by the government. The attendance in government offices was thin.

Five of them allegedly tried to cross the Line of Control – the de facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.