Kashmir unrest: 5 killed in fresh clashes in Valley; death toll rises to 63

Srinagar: Five persons were killed and several others injured in security forces action against stone-pelting protestors in Budgam and Anantnag districts of Kashmir on Tuesday where normal life remained paralysed for the 39th consecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatist-sponsored strike. [caption id=“attachment_2958758” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Smoke rises from a complex where militants and police personnel clashed in Kashmir. PTI[/caption] With the fresh deaths, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley has now gone up to 63. Four persons were killed in CRPF firing on stone-pelting protestors in Aripathan area of Magam in Budgam district while five others were injured, a police official said. The deceased have been identified as Javaid Ahmad, Manzoor Ahmad, Mohammad Ashraf and Kauser Sheikh, he said. The incident took place when a group of protestors hurled stones at a passing CRPF vehicle this morning. In another incident at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag district, five persons were injured when security forces opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting group of youth, the official said. He said one of the injured – Amir Yousuf – succumbed to injuries. Meanwhile, curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town while restrictions were in place in rest of the Valley as normal life remained paralysed for the 39th consecutive day. The official said curfew and restrictions were imposed to thwart the plans of separatists to organise sit-in protest by traders against the civilian killings at main market places of the Valley. “Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town in south Kashmir as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” the police official said. Schools, colleges and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off the roads due to the strike called by the separatists. The attendance in government offices was thin.Internet and mobile services across the Valley remained suspended. While broadband services were snapped on Saturday evening, the mobile telephony was suspended late in the night on the same day. Normal life has been affected due to protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on 8 July. The separatist camp is spearheading the protests in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against Wani’s killing. As many as 62 persons including two cops have been killed and several thousand others have been injured in the clashes that began on 9 July.