Kashmiri women mourn the death of Burhan Wani, a separatist militant leader, during his funeral in Tral, south of Srinagar, on Saturday. REUTERS
Majid Jahangir &
Suhail A Shah
Tribune News Service
Srinagar/Anantnag, July 9
A day after top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s death, the Kashmir valley witnessed protests and clashes that left 11 dead when security forces allegedly opened fire. More than 150 persons, including policemen, were injured in the day-long clashes as the security forces struggled to quell protesters in almost all districts. As a precautionary step, the authorities have suspended the Amarnath yatra.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Burhan was killed on Friday in a gunfight in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district along with his two accomplices. The protests broke out immediately after the news of his death. The separatists in Kashmir have extended the call for strike to July 10 and 11. Among those killed today were Amir Bashir Khan of Verinag, Saqib Manzoor Mir and Yawar Manzoor of Khundroo Achabal, Aijaz Ahmad Thakur of Siligam Ashmuqam, Mohammad Asif Dar of Halpora Kokernag and Showkat Ahmed of Arwani Bijbehara.
“There were incidents of arson and stone-pelting across the Valley. At a couple of places during crowd control, eight persons died,” Additional Director General of Police SM Sahai told mediapersons in Srinagar. He said at many places the mobs tried to enter establishments of security forces to loot weapons. They attacked BSF posts and vital installations, he said. “A mob looted weapons at the Damhal Hanjipore police station and opened fire, injuring three policemen. Twenty of our men were taken hostage. Three policemen are missing,” Sahai said, adding that 96 personnel were seriously injured. “Last night, the Haal (Pulwama) minority camp was attacked. The CRPF men came under fire and some abandoned houses were set on fire,” he said. The ADGP said the militants also carried out an attack on the District Police Lines, Pulwama, which was repulsed. The trouble began late Friday night in Qaimoh area of Kulgam where the security forces allegedly opened fire at a youth protesting the killing of the Hizbul commander. This led to an attack on the BJP office in Kulgam.In Srinagar, curfew was imposed in old areas. Restrictions were imposed in Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Maisuma. Mobile Internet services and train services were suspended. Nevertheless, clashes and protests broke out in several parts of the city. Tens of thousands of people attended Burhan’s burial in south Kashmir`s Tral today. Forty funeral prayers were held for the slain commander. Appealing to the people not to let their children out on the streets, the Additional DGP said: “This kind of situation does result in casualties that we have seen today, which is very unfortunate. We would have liked that not to happen.”