SRINAGAR: Curfew was re-imposed in various parts of frontier Kupwara districts including Handwara town and police and CRPF reinforcements were rushed in to enforce it after fresh protests broke out during a three-hour relaxation on Monday.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, appealed for calm and urged the youths to help the government in its effort to bring about peace in the Valley. She said, “I make a fervent appeal to our youth to come forward and help my government in its sincere effort to restore peace in the State.”
Promising severe punishment to those found guilty in security forces’ firing and other actions which claimed the lives of four youths and a 53-year-old woman resident and left scores of people injured past week, she said restoration of peace was a prerequisite for development.
Meanwhile, the 16-year-old Kashmiri girl whose alleged molestation pushed the Valley into increasing unrest and escalating violence leaving five persons dead and scores injured past week has been traced to her maternal uncle’s home in Zalchaldara, a remote area of frontier Kupwara district, by a legal team.
The girl had on April 13, a day after Handwara witnessed clashes over her alleged molestation, said in a video that it were actually two local youths who harassed her and that there was no Army soldier present in the public lavatory where the supposed incident had taken place.
