Kashmir Day 22: Injuries mount as clashes continue

Dozens of protesters were injured as clashes broke out in several parts of Kashmir on Saturday. 
Three civilians, including a woman, were injured in Imam Sahib area of Shopian district after government forces opened fire on protesting youth. According to reports, personnel from police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) and CRPF opened fire on the protesters. 
One of the boys was shot in the shoulder and legs and the other one was shot in the legs. A woman, identified as Parveena, was shot in Kutpora village 2 Kilometers from the spot of the firing while she was working in her vegetable garden. They were rushed to Shopian district hospital where they were referred to SKIMS Srinagar.
Following the incident, sources said, police and CRPF men went on a rampage in the area forcing the locals to flee their homes. 
“They smashed window panes, thrashed everybody that came their way after shooting three people,” a local told Rising Kashmir over phone, adding that the terrified villagers were forced to flee their houses for safer places.
Following the assault by police, sources said, hundreds of people from adjoining villages moved towards Imam Sahib village. 
Reports of police highhandedness were received from Czawalgam village of Kulgam district. “We have been living in fear. As darkness falls police and CRPF men come to our village and smash window panes. They have damaged many private cars here as well. Many youth have been arrested from the village,” a local told Rising Kashmir.
In Tral area of Pulwama hundreds of people reached Noorpora area to pay their respects to Parvaiz, the Hizb militant, who was killed along with Burhan Wani on July 8.
They dispersed peacefully after raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans besides offering Fatiha prayers at the slain militant’s grave.
Responding to the call of the separatist leadership, people offered Asr and Magrib prayers on roads in their respected areas as a mark of protest against the civilian killings. The prayers were held at various places in Srinagar with Hurriyat (G) chief Syed Ali Geelani also joining the prayers in open at Hyderpora. Similar reports were received from Batamaloo, Nowgam, and Rawalpora, where people, men and women, were sitting on roads as a mark of protest. In Anantnag district, people offered prayers in open at Old Town. A mashaal march was taken out in saffron town of Pampore late evening.
Meanwhile, curfew continued for the 22nd straight day in most parts of south Kashmir region where protestors continued to attempt and defy the restrictions.
People also came out on roads to offer Asr prayers, in accordance to the Hurriyat protest program. Bike rallies were taken out in Kanelwan and Qaimoh areas of Anantnag and Kulgam districts respectively. 
Hundreds of bikes were part of these rallies waving Pakistani flags and raising slogans against India.
In Dooru area of Anantnag, clashes continued for the second consecutive day. Many people were injured during these clashes.
Clashes were also reported from parts of Pulwama district, including Tahab, the main town and some other areas.
Police and paramilitary forces resorted to pellet firing and tear smoke shelling to disperse protesters at two places in Budgam district. Four protesters were injured in Kawoosa, Budgam during the clashes, sources said.
The injured were brought to Magam hospital where from two were shifted to Srinagar, they said.
The clashes erupted after protesters were stopped from assembling and raising slogans against the civilian killings. Clashes also erupted in Magam town of Budgam and Kanelwan area of Anantnag district.
Clashes were going on in some areas of Kupwara district when reports last came in. A youth identified as Munir Ahmed Lone, son of Mohammad Shafi Lone, was injured in clashes at Lolab. He has been shifted to sub-district hospital Sogam. Three more youth were injured at Lalpora area. One youth identified as Tahir Ahmed has received pellet injures in chest.
Meanwhile, a police official said curfew was lifted from most parts of Kashmir but restrictions on assembly of four or more persons continued in entire Valley.
“Curfew is in place only in five police station areas of Srinagar city — Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharajgunj, Anantnag town and Pampore town,” he said. Authorities had imposed curfew and restrictions on Friday across Kashmir to thwart a call by separatist camp for march to historic Jamia Masjid. 
Over 50 civilians have died while more than 3,500 have been injured in the ongoing unrest since July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter.