SRINAGAR: Paramilitary troops shot and killed at least 12 people during anti-Indian riots in parts of the Kashmir valley, officials said.
The riots coincided with an expression of concern by India to Pakistan over what it views as a surge in activities of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, a pro-group.
Officials in Jammu and Kash-state said that the police and paramilitary forces killed 10 people in Srinagar, the summer capital as stone throwing crowds protested the arrest of a Kashmiri militant leader.
The authorities imposed an indefinite curfew on parts of Srinagar, and troops were placed on alert.
A curfew was also in effect in northern region of Sopur after the shot and killed two people during clashes with youths shouting anti slogans, the Kashmir officials said.
Violence broke out in Sopur when an earlier curfew was temporarily lifted to allow people to buy food. Similar clashes occurred in Anantnag and in Baramula, near Srinagar.
The curfews were imposed in large towns in the Kashmir valley before the anniversary on Friday of a 1949 United Nations resolution calling for a referendum on the future of Kashmir, a region is predominantly Muslim. The majority of Indians are Hindu.
Witnesses said that the protests today apparently were set off by the arrest Sunday of Shafait Mohammad a leader of a militant group that wants Kashmir removed entirely from Indian jurisdiction and incorporated into over-Muslim Pakistan.
Other groups are seeking independent for Kashmir. Two thirds of the is part of the Indian state of Jaand Kashmir, and the remainder is Pakistani jurisdiction.
At least eleven major towns in the valley, including Srinagar, were put under curfew on Thursday night. Badgam was the twelfth town where curfew was clamped. Friday when people tried to take out a procession after the Friday prayers.
Curfew was imposed in the towns as a “preventive measure” following reports that militant organizations were planning to create large scale disturbances in the valley and observe Friday as the “self determination of Kashmir day”.
One Abid Ahmed Wani was killed in the Nawakadal locality when CRPF Jawans resorted to firing to chase away a group of youth who tried to defy ban orders and organize a protest demonstration against the imposition of curfew.
Two persons also sustained bullet injuries, one of them seriously when CRPF personnel opened fire in the Nawa Bazar locality. Both have been admitted to the hospital where their condition was described as out of danger.
An unconfirmed report said militants opened fire in the Alikadal and Jama Masjid areas. However no one was reported to have been injured.
The other towns under curfew are Anantnag, Baramulla, Bijbehara, Bandipore, Handwara, Pampore, Pulwama, Sopore, Shopian and Tral. Curfew has also been imposed in Tregham village of Kupwara district.
Authorities are strictly implementing the curfew. Vehicles fitted with mikes repeatedly announced the restrictions and asked people not to attempt to violate the ban orders. Nearly one hundred companies of paramilitary forces and state armed police were patrolling the 12 towns.
No incidents were reported from other towns except in Anantnag Township, where crackers were burst as part of the celebration of “Kashmir day” called by the government of Pakistani Kashmir,
Senior police and civil officials held meetings to review the law and order situation in the valley.
Intelligence sources said the militants had plans to announce a “government in exile” after their proposed celebrations in the Lalchowk area in the heart of the city.
‘The organizations had asked the people to organize processions to be led by Imams (priests) of the mosques to converge at Lalchowk.
Seven suspected militants were nabbed near the border town of Uri while trying to sneak into Indian Territory.
A report from Anantnag said several small towns—Mattan, Achabal, and Wampoh observed a day’s strike Friday.
An explosion took place in a government vehicle at Baba Demb-road on Thursday causing minor damages to the vehicle.
A powerful explosion caused minor damages to the State Bank of India building. No one was injured.
The spokesman said, some militants fired two rounds from the front and three rounds from the rear side of police station building at Safakadal late Thursday. In reply the policemen fired 23 rounds. The area was cordoned off and a search was conducted.
In Baramulla, a government vehicle was damaged in an explosion on Thursday night.
People offered Friday prayers at all the curfew bound towns the spokesman said.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 12, 1990
