Kashmir: Protests And Stone-Pelting Reported In Srinagar

Thousands of paramilitary police have been deployed in Kashmir ’s Srinagar, schools shut and roads and neighbourhoods barricaded since the Centre on Monday abolished Article 370  which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir  and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories. The Parliament approved a resolution and a bill to this effect on Tuesday.

Officials told PTI a curfew has not been declared, but authorities have ordered strict implementation of Section 144 of the CrPC which prohibits assembly of over five people in an area.

There are reports of clashes from across Kashmir Valley but details are still not known because of the clampdown on communication links, they said.

However, two police officers told Reuters there have been sporadic protests. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

There has been stone-pelting in at least 30 places across Srinagar since Tuesday night, one of them said. At least 13 people have been admitted to the city’s main government hospital with pellet injuries, he added. 

The report quoted data gathered by local civil society groups, who said around 160 civilians were killed last year. The deaths also included 267 members of armed groups and 159 security forces personnel.

It said the Home Ministry published lower figures of 37 civilians, 238 militants and 86 security forces personnel killed.

The report notes that in Kashmir, accountability for violations committed by members of the Indian security forces remains virtually non-existent.

“Arbitrary detention and so-called cordon and search operations leading to a range of human rights violations continue to be deeply problematic, as do the special legal regimes applying to Kashmir,” it said.

NSA Doval in Kashmir

Meanwhile, All India Radio on Wednesday released visuals of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval having lunch with locals, with closed shops in the backdrop, at an undisclosed locality. He was heard saying in the video that once the new administration is set up, things will change.

While All India Radio reported on the arrests without details , the officials told PTI that activists across the political spectrum have been detained in Srinagar as well as other parts of the valley.

PTI quoted latest reports to say about 560 such workers have been lodged in makeshift detention centres in Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar and other such centres in Baramulla and Gurez.

Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah of the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP have been detained at Hari Niwas on Gupkar road, it said.

Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, was arrested on Tuesday for a few hours, but has since been detained at his home, a statement from his office said.