As the PDP-BJP government battles the unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. After a brief spell of relative calm, reports of stone pelting were received from many places in the curfew-bound Valley, mostly in Baramulla, Kupwara and Pulwama districts, as clashes continued through the evening.
Curfew remained in force in all 10 districts of the Valley due to apprehension of law and order problems in view of large gatherings for Friday prayers.
A youth identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat sustained severe injuries in the abdomen after being hit by pellets during protests at Chursoo in Awantipora area of Pulwama this afternoon after Friday prayers, a police official said. He said Bhat was rushed to SMHS hospital here but succumbed to injuries. This was the first death in fresh clashes in the Valley since Monday when three persons were killed in army firing at Qazigund in Anantnag district.
Two other persons were brought to SMHS hospital on Friday with pellet injuries –one from Kakapora in Pulwama district and other from Sopore town of north Kashmir Baramulla district, the official said. He said condition of Asif Ahmad, who was injured during clashes in Kakapora, was critical while Aaqib Ahmad from Sopore was stable.
Earlier in the day, a youth succumbed to injuries sustained in clashes a few days ago. Ishtiyaq Ahmad, injured in clashes at Kokernag area of Anantnag district, died at SKIMS hospital, Soura this morning.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea seeking imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir, under a provision of J&K Constitution, due to the prevailing law and order situation in the state.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur directed that the petition filed by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) be listed next week.
The plea was mentioned before the bench by the counsel for JKNPP who said that Jammu and
Kashmir has been “under siege of the security forces and the police for the past two weeks resulting in a total chaos, anarchy and disorder in the entire valley of Kashmir”.
The counsel said that Governor’s rule under section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir should be imposed. The petition sought a direction to the Governor to dissolve the Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir “which has failed to discharge its duties and functions”.