Death toll mounting
Strict curfew and communication blockade, with civilian killings continuing has messed up life in the Valley, even as death toll of the civilians mounted to 49 with two more civilians, including an elderly woman, being the latest casualties of forces firing on Monday evening.
Showkat Ahmad Itoo and Saida Begum, 55, of Churhat, Qazigund, were killed in army firing on Monday evening when the army was trying to remove a blockade on a bridge enroute their camp, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement issued to media on July 16 claimed that a violent mob attacked the police post at Hatmulla in Kupwara.
The unrest continues for the 11th today after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, by forces in Bumdoora village of Kokernag in Anantnag district on July 8 evening.
Curfew would continue to be imposed in the restive Valley till July 20.
Meanwhile, newspapers were asked to resume their publications after Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof Amitabh Matoo, said on a TV channel that there was no gag on newspapers publications.
Earlier, a government spokesman had ordered that all newspaper publications and new agencies will be stopped to publish or send bulletins till July 19 due to prevailing situation.
Meanwhile, SSP Budgam has been transferred for raiding printing presses and detaining employees of the presses.
This follows after CM’s advisor said that “heads will roll”, hinting that action will be taken against those who imposed gag on media.
Meanwhile, Cable television was allowed on Saturday evening after being suspended by the government for a day. “The resumption of cable television operations was allowed after the operators agreed to take off all Pakistani TV channels and two private Indian English news channels,” the official said.
Mobile phones and internet services remained suspended in the Valley, however, only BSNL Broadband and post-paid services are being allowed to operate. Train services also remained suspended.
Top Hurriyat leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah and others have been either placed under house arrest or taken into preventive custody to restrain them from participating in protests. Separatists have appealed the people to continue the shutdown till Friday.