Toll in Kashmir violence climbs to 24, curfew remains in force

SRINAGAR: Curfew today remained in force in many parts of the Valley including pockets of Srinagar city and Pulwama district as authorities braced for more protests on the fourth day of militant commander Burhan Wani's killing even as the toll in the violent clashes between protestors and security forces climbed to 24.

A youth injured yesterday in the protests succumbed at a hospital here. Adil Ahmad Mattoo, who was injured in the firing incident at Bijbehara, succumbed to injuries at SMHS Hospital here late last night, a police official said today.

More than 350 persons including over 115 security force personnel have been injured in the clashes and militant attacks following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Wani as the situation continued to be tense across the Valley.

Authorities are braced for more protests on the occasion of the fourth day of Wani's killing.

Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Muneerul Islam said the government will open all ration stores tomorrow if the day passed off peacefully.

"If the situation remains peaceful, we will open all the ration stores tomorrow despite a public holiday," he said.

Authorities have strengthened the presence of security forces on ground in vulnerable areas of the city and elsewhere in the Valley to contain the protests, the official said.

He said the restrictions were being enforced strictly to avoid any further loss of life or damage to property.

Mobile Internet services across the Valley and train services remained suspended for the fourth day even as mobile telephony was partially restored in the four districts of south Kashmir.

Normal life remained affected across the Valley due to the strike called by the separatists groups.

Public transport was completely off the roads while private cars and auto-rickshaws were seen plying at few places in the areas where there were no restrictions, they said.

Educational institutions in the Valley were closed on account of the ongoing summer vacations, while Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) and Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) have postponed the examinations due to the prevailing situation.

Most of the separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, are either in custody or house arrest.