Kashmir unrest: Youth killed in clashes, death toll rises to 71

A youth was today killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Qazigund area of South Kashmir taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 71 even as curfew continued in parts of Srinagar in view of the separatists' call for occupying Lal Chowk and Airport Road here.

Curfew-like restrictions remained in force in rest of Kashmir even as normal life remained paralysed for the 57th day. 24-year old Basit Ahmed Ahanger was brought to the district hospital in Anantnag here with pellet injuries sustained during clashes, a police official said, adding he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

"Curfew remains in force in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown city," a police official said.

He said curfew in these areas of the summer capital continued as a precautionary measure in view of the call given by separatists asking people to occupy Airport Road, city centre Lal Chowk and district headquarters today and tomorrow to protest the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation to the Valley.

However, the official said, curfew has been lifted from the towns where it was imposed yesterday. Curfew has been lifted from other areas of the Valley in view of the improving situation, the official said.

Authorities had on 2 September reimposed curfew in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla and Pattan towns apart from some areas of Srinagar in view of apprehensions of violence after Friday prayers. Curfew-like restrictions on the movement of people were in place in the rest of the Valley, official sources said.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to the separatist sponsored strike on 57th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads. The separatists have extended the shutdown programme till September 8.

Two police personnel are among those killed while several thousand others have been injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces in the Valley since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on 8 July.

-PTI