Srinagar: Mobile services have been suspended in north Kashmir and SMS services have been blocked in the entire Valley, with the situation remaining tense on Tuesday morning. Sources said this has been done to stop rumour mongering in an already incendiary situation.
Sources also said curfew would continue in Sopore, the town worst hit by violent protests over civilian deaths allegedly in the use of force by CRPF against agitators. Restrictions under Section 144, which prohibits assembly of more than four persons, are in place in and around Srinagar and Baramulla. Additional companies of the CRPF have been deployed in Sopore.
The J&K government has asked the Centre for help and said last evening that the Army could be called in if the situation was not brought under control soon. But there has been no Army deployment for riot or crowd control. Sources said the Army and Rashtriya Rifles would continue mobile patrolling for counter-insurgency as usual in Sopore, Baramulla and the surrounding areas.
Protests are on in Delina, in Baramullah where a nine-year-old boy was killed in CRPF firing yesterday. On Monday morning, a crowd had gathered for the funeral of a youth, 20-year-old Bilal Ahmad Wani, who was killed in Sopore on Sunday, allegedly hit by a rubber bullet fired from a CRPF picket. Raising anti-government and pro-freedom slogans, nearly 4,000 protestors carried Bilal's body and marched on the streets of the town.
The funeral procession turned violent and five people were injured in CRPF firing. Soon, protesters marching near Sopore clashed with the police. As they headed towards a CRPF post, a jawan fired from the picket killing another 20-year-old, Tajamul.
Some time later on Monday came the incident that shook the Valley. Nine-year-old Tauqir Ahmad, was allegedly killed when CRPF personnel opened fire on a protest march at Delina in Baramulla. (In Pics: Tension in Kashmir) The last two weeks have seen eight civilian deaths in the Valley.
The CRPF has denied reports that it fired during the funeral procession. Vikram Srivastava, Director General, CRPF said, "No ammunition has been fired by CRPF at the funeral procession. Our basic position is that we are there to assist state police." (Watch: CRPF denies firing at protesters in Sopore)
When asked about the civilian deaths in Kashmir, especially that of the very young, Home Secretary G K Pillai said the blame should be put on those who put teenagers on the front lines. "The organisers of these mobs are in a sense willing to put teenagers in front, I think they have to be blamed. Teenagers should realise that they are just being exploited by those who are doing these," he said. Pillai was speaking to NDTV on the show India Decides.
There have been eight civilian deaths, allegedly in CRPF action, over the last two weeks. On June 25, two youths were killed and three others injured allegedly in firing by CRPF after the security personnel were attacked by protesters following an encounter in which two militants were gunned down.
That incident sparked the latest round of protests across the Valley.
Separatists have called for a two-day strike, and several leaders of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, including its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, were placed under house arrest on Monday. The Mirwaiz faction has called for civil disobedience. Other separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani and Yasin Malik have been arrested under the Public Safety Act. (Read: Hurriyat leaders placed under house arrest)
Schools and colleges in the Valley are closed for two days to prevent student protests.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke with Home Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday night and voiced strong concern over civilians becoming victims of action by paramilitary forces. Asking him to intervene in the matter, Omar asked the Home Minister to visit the state. The visit is likely to take place in a day or two.
Jammu and Kashmir Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said firing by the CRPF was unwarranted and had added to the already tense situation. "Firing like this was totally unwarranted. It added to the fuel. Whatever the CRPF has done is very unfortunate and gives out the wrong message," said Sagar.
But Home Ministry sources said it was not correct to blame the CRPF alone as it operated in aid of the state police. They further added that the CRPF is not being handled properly by the state administration.
The Home Ministry believes that the CRPF might have taken action in self-defence when attacked by an unruly mob.
