Mother dies, son fights for life in clash between Army and protesters in Kashmir

Srinagar: A woman injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in South Kashmir succumbed at a hospital, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 42, even as curfew remained in force in the Valley on Tuesday. Neelofar was injured in retaliatory firing on Monday after the protesters pelted stones at an Army vehicle in Qazigund. Her eight-year-old is battling for life in the hospital, reported DNA. Two other persons, including a woman, were killed and seven others injured in the incident. [caption id=“attachment_2901826” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Youths pelt stones at security forces after blocking a road during clashes in Srinagar. PTI[/caption] Authorities decided to impose curfew in the Valley on Tuesday for the 12th day running while separatists extended the protest shutdown for another three days here in Jammu and Kashmir. A police spokesman, giving details of the incident, said an army mobile domination patrol party while moving towards Devsar tried to clear a road blockade erected by some persons at Churaht Qazigund. “The security force party while removing the obstructions came under heavy stone pelting by the miscreants from two sides. The Army party warned the mob to maintain distance but it did not relent. Some miscreants tried to snatch weapons from them and tried to set ablaze the vehicles. Despite repeated warnings the mob did not disperse and army fired in self defence in an effort to move out from the spot,” the spokesman said, adding six persons were injured in the incident out of which two had succumbed last night. Curfew, meanwhile, remained in force across the 10 districts of the Valley as there was no sign of deadly clashes between protestors and security forces ending. The clashes began soon after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on 8 July. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength across the Valley for strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, the official said. He said there were no reports of fresh violence from anywhere in the Valley so far. Normal life also remained paralysed for the 11th day on Tuesday due to separatist sponsored strike, which has now been extended till 22 July. Schools, colleges and universities have been closed by the authorities till July 25 because of the prevailing law and order situation in the Valley. In a joint statement, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik yesterday said the shutdown in the Valley will continue till 22 July. However, they have announced a relaxation of half day from 2 pm onwards on 21 July. Mobile telephone and mobile Internet services also remained shut while newspapers failed to hit stands for the fourth day. Limited mobile phone connectivity is, however, available to subscribers on post paid mobile phones provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Amitabh Mattoo, advisor to the state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, told media that the decision to ban publication of newspapers was not taken at the instance of the Chief Minister. Mattoo said the decision was taken at “the local level and heads would soon roll for taking such a harsh decision”. With inputs from agencies