Curfew reimposed in Handwara, neighbouring areas after fresh clashes

Srinagar: Curfew was reimposed 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 3-hour relaxation on Monday morning.

Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, appealed for calm and urged the youth 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 youth 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 in the State. “Wherever there is injustice, strict action would be taken and severe punishment handed down," she told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Jammu.

Several other parts of the Valley witnessed widespread disturbances past week over alleged molestation of a 16-year-old girl inside a public lavatory in Handwara, which also left over 200 policemen and other security personnel injured in clashes with mobs.

DC Kupwara, Rajeev Ranjan, has appointed additional district magistrate Handwara, Peer Muzaffar Ahmed, as inquiry officer to probe the April 12 shooting incident in the town.

Though curfew or curfew-life restrictions were lifted from Srinagar areas and some other parts of the Valley on Saturday night, it continued to be in force in Handwara and Kupwara towns and their neighbourhood for another day. But soon after the lifting of curfew on Monday morning, surging crowds held protests over the killings in police and Army firings. They were chanting pro-freedom and anti India slogans and, when confronted by police, started hurling rocks at it, witnesses said. Clashes followed and the authorities announced re-imposing of curfew, reports said adding that, at least, one person Javed Ahmed was injured when hit by a stone.

Officials said that curfew had been lifted from Handwara for three hours from 8 am but had to be re-clamped following protests and clashes. “The situation is under control after the attempt to foment trouble again was foiled,” police said adding the situation in Handwara and other places in the district is being closely monitored.

The other areas where curfew was re-imposed are Kralagund, Natnusa, Magam, Kolangam, Awura, Trehgam and Langaet, reports said. At places, police fired teargas canisters to disperse irate crowds which took to the streets soon after the authorities announced lifting of curfew in the morning.

Handwara MLA and minister for social welfare, Sajad Gani Lone, took to social networking sites to deny any fresh casualties have taken place in the town. “Rumours about fatalities in Handwara totally baseless and untrue,” he wrote on Facebook. But the post evoked rebuke from some of the users who accused him of betraying the Kashmiri nation. “Sajad Lone thinks he still has some credibility! Poor chap,” read a comment. 

However, normalcy returned to Srinagar. Shops and other businesses and educational institutions reopened and public transport was back on the roads on Monday after Srinagar witnessed days of official curfews and separatist-called shutdowns. The rail services too resumed whereas the Internet facility was restored fully overnight. However, protests by students against recent killings were held on the campus of Kashmir University in Hazratbal area.

Meanwhile, reiterating that peace and tranquillity are a prerequisite for development, the Chief Minister said, “If there is peace, there will be development, happiness and tourism and people will lead a prosperous life. And if, God forbid, there is no peace, our people would be the worst sufferers”.

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the recent incidents. “Definitely there is a conspiracy to disturb peace in areas like Kupwara and Handwara. These areas remained peaceful when there was turmoil in other parts (of the Valley),” he said adding that anti-national and anti-people elements succeeded in creating a rumour (that the girl has been molested by an Army jawan) which led to “unfortunate situation". Asked what action would be taken against those responsible for the "rumour", he said, "Definitely the law will take its own course and everything shall be taken care of once peace is fully restored."

A report from Kupwara said the district authorities have placed five government employees under suspension following a complaint that they instigated the local youth to indulge in stone pelting last week. However, DC Kupwara Ranjan has ordered a time-bound enquiry into their conduct after placing the officials Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Ahad Bhat, Hissamuddin Shah and Ghulam Mohiudin Rather under suspension. Three of the accused are teachers and two peons in government-run schools and the sixth person is an official of an engineering department.