Uneasy calm in Kashmir valley, shoot at sight at Kishtwar

SRINAGAR: Sporadic violence occured across Kashmir valley on Wednesday during which police fired at two places in the city as uneasy calm prevailed after two days of violent unrest left 21 persons dead in firing by security forces.

In the Jammu region, shoot-at-sight orders were issued in Kishtwar town rocked by communal clashes in which two persons died yesterday, official sources said.

Authorities relaxed the curfew in three-hour blocks in Srinagar and five other districts for 12 hours during when there were no major incidents.

Curfew was also relaxed in Kulgam, Anantnag, Budgam, Ganderbal and Kupwara districts and unlikely to be reimposed while restrictions continued in other four districts of the valley. People were seen buying essential items like vegetables, grains and medicines.

Curfew was imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley yesterday for the first time in 13 years after the situation spiralled out of control. Three more persons succumbed to their injuries raising the death toll in the cycle of violence since Monday to 21.

Six persons were injured, one of them critically, in firing by police and CRPF at Habbakadal and Bemina areas of the city during pitched battles with protestors. Four persons were injured when police used batons and tear gas shells to disperse protesters in Tral area of Pulwama district.

In Bemina, the mob set ablaze the building of Srinagar Development Authority.

Agitators pelted stones at security personnel in Karan Nagar, Fateh Kadal, Nawa Kadal, Safakadal, Natipora and Chanapora areas Srinagar. Police used batons and teargas shells to chase away the protesters who continued to pour on to the streets of the valley. There were also protests in Pampore, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora and Charar-e-Sharief towns of the valley.