Violence erupted in Kashmir on Friday as authorities reimposed curfew and restrictions across the Valley to prevent people from marching towards the Jamia Masjid in the old city.
Reports said dozens of civilian protesters were injured in fresh clashes.
A police official said curfew was reimposed in south Kashmir and Srinagar, while restrictions were imposed in north and central Kashmir. He said the curfew and restrictions were imposed to thwart the march announced by separatists to Jamia Masjid.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik had asked the people to reach Jamia Masjid in Srinagar to pay tributes to the people killed in the recent violence in the Valley. Geelani and Mirwaiz, who were put under house arrest, defied the restrictions and came out of their homes to march towards the masjid. The police stopped them and took them away.
Reports said that violent clashes between protesters and security personnel broke out throughout the Valley after Friday congregation prayers. Youth defied the curfew and fought pitched battles with security personnel in which dozens of protesters were injured.
At SMHS hospital in Srinagar, 19 people with pellet injuries were brought within a span of 24 hours from various parts of the city where clashes had erupted between security forces and protesters. Hospital administration said that out of the 19 injured, 11 had received pellets in eyes.
In addition to pellet injuries, four people, as per the hospital records, had been injured by rubber bullets but were stated to be stable. The injured hailed from various parts of Srinagar.
SMHS Hospital has recorded over 561 injury cases in the past 20 days. When the last reports came in, ambulances ferrying injured persons from various districts were reaching the hospital.
On Thursday, authorities lifted curfew and restrictions across the Valley, except Anantnag town, after some improvement in the situation.
Normal life remained paralysed in the Valley for the 21st consecutive day on Friday in view of the curfew and strike call given by the separatist camp. The separatists have extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till July 31.
In their latest call, the separatists have asked the people to hold sit-ins on roads on Saturday and offer late afternoon and evening prayers on roads.
On July 31, they have asked people to visit martyrs’ graveyard in the old city to offer special prayers and paint slogans and graffiti on walls and roads.
More than 50 people, including two policemen, have died since the violence erupted following Hizbul commander Burhan Wani’s killing on July 8. Thousands of people, including security personnel have been injured in three-week violence.
The continuous curfew and strike has created humanitarian crisis in the Valley with people facing acute shortage of essential commodities, including medicines and baby food.