KASHMIR SIMMERS-Thousands Attend Zahid Farooq’s Funeral

Undeclared Curfew In Old City For 4th Day; Valley-Wide Shutdown, Protests On

GOWHAR BHAT-Srinagar, Feb 6: Amidst a curfew-like situation and somber scenes, the 16-year old teenager, Zahid Farooq, who was shot dead allegedly by paramilitary troopers on Friday, was laid to eternal rest at his ancestral graveyard in city outskirts today, even as life in the Kashmir Valley remained crippled for the sixth consecutive day Saturday due to the undeclared curfew and shutdown.

LAST JOURNEY

 Thousands of people braving rains, snow and chill thronged Zahid’s residence at Brein Nishat this morning to participate in his funeral prayers.

 Locals on Friday evening had refused to bury teenager’s body as they wanted police to register an FIR against the paramilitary forces. Police registered an “open FIR against the security forces” following which his body was shifted to Police Control Room, Srinagar for postmortem.

 His body was brought home around noon. Hundreds of people including men, women and children had assembled there to mourn his killing. Amid pro-freedom slogans he was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard at near Brein Bazar, Nishat.

 After his burial, massive protests erupted in the area with youth stating anti-India demonstrations. However, police and paramilitary troopers used force to quell them. They beat up protesters with batons and fired teargas shells to disperse them. Police also detained a few protesters.

 

LIFE REMAINS CRIPPLED

 Meanwhile, Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown for sixth consecutive day as old city continued to be under siege.

 Policemen and paramilitary CRPF troopers, deployed in large numbers, sealed all the roads leading to the old city areas, including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Gojwara and several areas along Nallahmar Road. They had erected barricades and laid spools of concertina wire to restrict the pedestrian as well as the vehicular movement.

 Witnesses from these localities said that the troopers weren’t allowing them to come out on roads. “We are being thrashed even if we open doors. We are running short of the daily food items,” residents of many old city areas told Greater Kashmir over phone.

 Near Vicharnag, Soura, witnesses said, CRPF men beat up two men who were carrying their ailing mother to SKIMS for treatment. “The CRPF men beat them up and smashed their Santro car, JK01M-5709.”

 In uptown areas, life remained paralyzed as a complete shutdown was observed against the killings of the two youth in less than a week.

 Shops, businesses, banks, courts and other private offices remained closed for the sixth running day. The public transport has also been suspended since Monday. The district administration had on Wednesday announced imposition of section 144 which bars assembly of four or more persons.

 

NORTH KASHMIR

 Major districts and towns in north Kashmir, including Varmul, Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipore and Sopur observed a complete shutdown, against the killing of two Srinagar youth within a week, for sixth running day today. Roads were deserted as traffic remained off the roads while the shops and trade houses also remained closed.

 Protests erupted at Sangrama, Sopur as people took to streets and staged demonstrations. They alleged that on Friday evening paramilitary CRPF troopers went berserk and thrashed many civilians including shopkeepers in the area. They demanded punishment for the guilty troopers.

 Senior police officials including Superintendent of Police, Sopur, Altaf Khan visited the spot and pacified the protesters.

 In the afternoon, scores of youth staged a massive pro-freedom demonstration at main chowk Sopur. However, police used force to quell the demonstrators.

 

SOUTH KASHMIR

 Reports pouring in from south Kashmir said that a complete shutdown was observed in Kulgam, Islamabad, Shopian and Pulwama amid clashes at few places.

 In Islamabad town, youth held pro-freedom demonstrations near Achabal Bus terminal which later spilled over to other areas including Lal Chowk, Reshi Bazar, Cheeni Chowk and Malakhnag. Police used force to quell the protests and baton charged protesters. Two persons, including a photojournalist, Zulfi Masood, were injured in the police action.

 In Kulgam, police during overnight raids detained nearly half a dozen youth following which locals staged protests this morning at main chowk, Kulgam. They demanded release of the detained youth.

 At least 20 youth were also picked up by police in Pulwama during raids against which the locals staged demos today. (With inputs from Khalid Gul, Umar Maqbool and Ghulam Muhammad)

 

KU exams postponed

Srinagar, Feb 6: Kashmir University today said all examinations scheduled to be held from 07-02-10 to 12-02-10 have being rescheduled and the fresh dates will be notified separately. The candidates are advised to contact concerned Heads of the departments /principals in this connection.

INPUTS From Greater Kashmir Daily