Srinagar:Two persons were killed and 25 others injured as violent protests continued at several places in Kashmir Valley where curfew remained in force in Srinagar and other major towns for the fifth successive day on Friday .
Five persons were injured when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse hundreds of people who defied curfew and indulged in stone-pelting at Churpora village of Beerwah, 32 kms from here, in Budgam district, official sources said.
One of the critically injured identified as Fayaz Ahmad Dar was rushed to SKIMS Medical College Hospital at Bemina where he was declared brought dead by the doctors, they said.
Another youth Ghulam Rasool Bhat was killed and eight others injured when security forces allegedly opened fire and used pump action gun to chase away curfew-defying mob at Tapper Payeen in Pattan, 30 kms from here in Baramulla district, they said. Bhat was taken to Sumbal sub-district hospital where he succumbed to injuries, they said. With the fresh killings, the death toll in the ongoing unrest, since June 11, in the Kashmir Valley has risen to 93.
Violent protests again broke out at Pattan and nearby areas in the evening and in the subsequent firing, six persons were injured. Condition of two of the injured, Javid Ahmad and Shoukat Ahmad, was stated to be "critical", the sources said.
Three more persons were injured in clashes between security forces and protestors at Sangrama, 45 kms from here in Baramulla district, they said, adding security forces allegedly opened fire in an attempt to bring the situation under control.
Another person identified as Mohammad Shafi was hit by a bullet in the leg when security forces allegedly opened fire after being attacked by a stone-pelting mob at Chichloora- Magam, 25 kms from here, on Srinagar-Gulmarg road, they said.
The sources said stone pelting incidents after Friday prayers were reported from Padgampora-Awantipora in Pulwama district, Main Chowk Sopore in Baramulla, Malik Masjid, Aalialpora and Shirmal in Shopian district, Nagam-Kokernag, Khushipora and Dooru in Anantnag district. The protestors were chased away by security forces using teargas shells and batons, the sources said adding three persons were injured in the clashes.
At Shirmal in Shopian, 52 kms from here, a huge mob set on fire the seized timber of Forest department. Earlier, two seized vehicles were torched at this place a couple of days back, the sources said.
Curfew was being strictly implemented across the Valley to thwart the call for a march to various violence-hit areas given by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, which is spearheading the ongoing agitation.
The amalgam has asked people from North Kashmir except Kupwara district to march to Palhallan in Baramulla district, while the residents of Ganderbal, Budgam and Srinagar were asked to head to Humhama area of Budgam.
The residents of South Kashmir were asked to march to Pampore town in Pulwama district, while the residents of Kupwara were asked to hold peaceful protests at the district headquarters against the recent killings.
Pampore, Humhama and Palhallan have been the worst hit areas in the clashes between protestors and security forces over the last fortnight and most of the deaths have occurred in these areas. Curfew was imposed in Srinagar on Sunday and it was extended to entire Kashmir Valley the next day following large scale violence and massive protests. PTI
