Clashes over Kashmiri trucker Zahid Butt’s murder spread to new areas

Srinagar: Protests and clashes against the recent murder of a Kashmiri trucker by Hindu zealots spread to new areas in the Valley on Friday whereas parts of summer capital Srinagar remained under curfew-like restrictions for the second day running to thwart planned protest sit-in by separatists.

Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and chairman of his faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who had called for the protest dharna at Srinagar’s historic Grand Mosque against trucker Zahid Rasool Butt’s killing, alleged unabated human rights violations by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, curbs on separatist leadership and attacks on minorities in India was earlier placed under house arrest.  

Other key separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Kashmir bar council president Mian Abdul Qayoom invited by the Mirwaiz to join him at the sit-in were also either placed under house arrest or had been detained by police earlier. 

No Friday congregational prayers could be held at Srinagar’s Grand Mosque that was surrounded by large number of policemen and paramilitaries in riot gear earlier around dawn to enforce security lockdown. Police authorities said that security restrictions  were imposed in seven police station areas of Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Maisuma and Kralkhud of Srinagar as a precautionary measure. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Srinagar.

Elsewhere in the Valley, stone-hurling crowds of youth clashed with security forces in several parts of southern Anantnag, Kulgam, and Pulwama districts. A youth identified as Adil was seriously injured when a teargas shell fired by police to quell a mob protesting at Imam Sahib in Shopian district following the slaying of two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants in an encounter with security forces earlier exploded in his hand, police said.

While street battles only intensified after midday Friday prayers despite curfew-like restrictions being in force in the towns of Anantnag and Bijbehara and their neighbourhoods, stone-hurling mobs clashed with police in several areas also in Baramulla district. The rail services between Baramulla in the Valley and Banihal in Jammu region remained suspended ‘as a precautionary measure’.  

Butt, a resident of Anantnag district died in a Delhi hospital last Sunday, ten days after he and another trucker Showkat Ahmed Dar received serious burn injuries when attacked by Hindus zealots amid rumours of cow slaughter in Udhampur district. They were returning to Kashmir after unloading apple consignment in Delhi.

The October 9 attack triggered a fresh spell of protests and violent street clashes in Kashmir Valley. Protests were also held at places in Muslim-majority Chenab valley of Jammu region. Police has arrested nine persons involved in the attack and launched a massive manhunt for the main accused.

Meanwhile, Chenab valley’s Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Thathri and some other areas on Friday witnessed protests by Muslims and a spontaneous shutdown by community traders following reports that pages of Islam’s holy book Qur’an were found used in crackers obtained for the effigies burnt during Dussehra at Seri Bazaar of Bhaderwah on Thursday.

The protesters raised slogans demanding stern action against the culprits and burnt tyres in the main market of Bhaderwah, the town which has equal Hindu-Muslim population. They also blocked the vehicular traffic on Bhaderwah-Doda road, demanding action against the crackers manufacturing company.

Police said it has registered an “open” FIR against the crackers manufacturing company on charge of hurting religious sentiments.