Protests continue in Kashmir; 2 injured

Two persons were injured when security forces allegedly opened fire to chase away a stone-pelting mob in Baramulla district of north Kashmir on Tuesday morning. A group of people defied the curfew at Khanpora, 50 kms from Srinagar, and indulged in heavy stone-pelting on the police and paramilitary forces, official sources said.

They said the security forces initially used teargas shells and batons to disperse the protestors but after they refused to disperse, warning shots were fired. Two persons identified as Javid and Tariq Ahmad were injured in the incident, the sources said. Ahmad's condition was stated to be 'critical'.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the area and clashes were going on when the last reports were received, the sources said.

Curfew was on Monday extended to all major towns of the Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure after violent clashes left 17 people dead and over 70 injured, official sources said.

The sources said the curfew was imposed in fresh areas as a precautionary measure and to prevent people from pouring out on the roads and streets. Srinagar city, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Awantipora, Lethpora, Pampore and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir and Sopore town in north Kashmir were already under curfew since Sunday.

The new areas that have been brought under the ambit of prohibitory orders include Budgam town, Choon, Mirgund, Ompora, Narkara, Shekhpora, Humhama, I G Road, Gulwanpora, Nadir Gund, Chadoora and Wathoora in central Kashmir's Budgam district. Curfew was also imposed in Ganderbal and Kangan towns, Kulgam, Qoimoh, Shopian town, Baramulla town, Tangmarg, Kupwara town, Tregham, Kralpora, Handwara, Chotipora, Kulangam and Bandipora town.

A police spokesman said a mob took out the belongings and bedding of police personnel from a police post at Khanabal-Pahalgam Road in Anantnag town on Monday night and set them on fire. A troop carrier of the state police was torched at Charier Sharief in Budgam district, he said.

Fresh violence erupted in Kashmir on Monday, leaving 18 dead, including a policeman, and over 80 injured, with mobs torching several government properties and a private school after a television report alleged desecration of a holy book in the United States.

The state cabinet on Monday condemned the alleged act of desecration and made a fervent appeal to the people not to take the law in their own hands.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Monday voiced concern over the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought to reach out to the people in the state, saying their grievances have to be addressed and promised talks within the Constitution with those who abjure violence.