Authorities continued to enforce curfew in Indian administered Kashmir for third day Monday while the death toll in protests against Indian parliament attack convict and Kashmiri citizen Mohammad Afzal Guru’s hanging has risen to three.

Srinagar, Feb 11/Nationalturk – The curfew imposed by authorities in Indian administered Kashmir after the hanging of Indian parliament attack convict and Kashmiri citizen Mohammad Afzal Guru, continued for third day on Monday while the death toll in protests against Guru’s hanging has risen to three.

Authorities imposed indefinite curfew in Indian administered Kashmir on Saturday (February 9) after Indian parliament attack convict and Kashmiri citizen Mohammad Afzal Guru was hanged in Indian Tihar jail secretly. Later, his body was buried in the jail

His family members were not informed about his hanging and Guru’s body was not handed to them. The local population, separatists leaders and some section of pro-Indian parties are of the opinion that Guru was not given a fair trial by Indian courts. Even Chief Minister of the region Omar Abdullah has raised a question mark about his fair trials.

Apprehending trouble and protests, authorities imposed indefinite curfew and it is being imposed strictly in the region. For the third day in succession today (February 11), thousands of police, paramilitary and army men enforced tough curfew and did not allow people in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, to venture out of homes. Owing to continued curfew and restrictions, people in Indian Kashmir are facing shortage of essentials and medicines.

Newspaper publications, internet suspended

The authorities have also imposed restrictions on Cable television. The cable operators have been directed not to telecast news channels or political discussions on local cable channels. Similarly, most of the internet services in the region are down.

The restrictions have also hit the publication and circulation of newspapers.

The publications of all the newspapers published from Srinagar  have been suspended since February 9 owing to imposition of curfew. At least 60 daily English and Urdu newspapers are published in the region. Only internet editions of few papers were available.

It is pertinent to mention here that  Short Message Service (SMS) has also been banned in the region for prepaid mobile numbers since 2010.

The editors and owners of the newspapers said they have been asked by the government not to publish the newspaper. Though no written orders were issued to the media groups, the managements were verbally asked not to publish the newspapers, the newspaper men alleged.

“There were least possible chances of government lifting the curfew and allowing local newspapers to hit the stands till Friday,” largest circulated English newspaper, Greater Kashmir reported in its web edition quoting official sources.

3 deaths in Kashmir from Feb 9

According to Indian news agency, PTI, A man injured allegedly in troops action in North Kashmir’s Baramulla succumbed today.

“Ubaid Mushtaq, who was injured allegedly in firing by forces at Watergam village in Baramulla district of North Kashmir yesterday, succumbed to injuries at 0300 hours at a hospital today,” the news agency quoted a health official.

It said another injured youth identified as Sajad Ahmad, who was hit by a bullet in the head — is on life support system.

The news agency further reported that a  youth drowned in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal area yesterday while allegedly being chased away by security men during a protest against hanging of Guru.

However, a police spokesman denied the allegation, saying the youth drowned after a boat capsized in the river.

The news agency further reported that another person drowned in Jhelum river in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal area today when a group of people protesting hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru were being chased away by security men.

It said a youth Tariq Ahmad Bhat and two others jumped into the river to escape security men. Bhat’s body was later fished out from the river while another managed to swim ashore.

PTI further reported that a youth, who went missing when group of people protesting hanging of Afzal Guru were allegedly chased away by security men was fished out from Jhelum river this morning.

“Body of Zameer Ahmad Dar, 16, who went missing yesterday, was fished out from Jhelum river in Ganderbal area. “Dar had gone missing yesterday during a protest demonstration in the area in which another youth, Tariq Ahmad Bhat, had also drowned,” the news agency reported.

Local residents alleged that the youth, who were protesting the hanging of Guru, jumped into the river to escape security forces.

However, police denied the allegation, saying the youth drowned after a boat overturned in the river.

Despite imposition of curfew and tough restrictions, there have been very vociferous protest demonstrations against the hanging. Most of the those demonstrations took place in North Kashmir and the protestors have been demanding return of body of Guru to his family members so that his funeral can be performed as per Islamic traditions in Kashmir.

More than 50 persons including 23 policemen have been injured in protests across Indian Kashmir after the hanging of Afzal Guru on February 9.

 

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

 

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