Kashmir relatively peaceful, Mufti talks of ‘healing touch’

Curfew remained in force in some parts of Kashmir, including Pampore and Kupwara towns, while restrictions on movement of people were imposed in the rest of the Valley.

A police spokesman said barring “some incidents” of stone pelting at various places, the situation “remained under control” in the Valley.

The stray and intermittent incidents of stone pelting were reported from Khudwani, Kulgam, Iman Sahib, Shopian and Kakpora in south Kashmir, Kralpora, Kupwara, Trehgam, Langate, Lalpora, Putkha Sopore and Main Chowk Sopore in north Kashmir, he said.

The toll rose to 34 in the clashes between stone pelters and security forces since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on last Friday.

Reaching out to the people, Mehbooba sought their “support in pulling J&K out of the vortex of violence and bloodshed.” 

“The 27-year-long violence has left deep wounds in almost each home here and we have to jointly safeguard our state and our people from further bloodshed and destruction,” she said after paying homage to the martyrs of 1931 at the Martyrs graveyard in Khawaja Bazar area of downtown Srinagar.

Commenting on the current unrest, Mehbooba said, “My heart is overwhelmed with great sadness and sorrow as a result of the killings in the latest spate of violence in Kashmir.” 

Asserting that “I won’t let the people down, despite facing a challenging task”, she said, “While my government’s immediate priority would be to reach out to the affected families with a healing touch, in the long run a concerted effort shall have to be launched to make peace and stability a reality in J&K, with youth being the focus of the government’s welfare initiatives.” 

She said July 13, 1931 will always be remembered as a defining moment in the history of J&K when the foundation for democracy and people’s rule was laid in the state.

“Each period of the state’s history has had its special challenges and those confronting us today are as demanding as any in the past,” the Chief Minister said.

Talking to mediapersons, she said the biggest tribute to these martyrs of 1931 would be to protect J&K’s dignity and democracy which became a reality in the state because of their huge sacrifice. .

Urging people not to “play with peace”, Mufti asked them not to fall prey to the machinations of those elements who want to disturb peace in the state.

“I think the biggest tribute to them would be to protect that peace and not fall prey to the machinations of those elements who want to disturb peace here,” said Mehbooba who was accompanied by some of her Cabinet colleagues, legislators, party functionaries and top officers of the civil and police administration.

According to the latest figures available, most deaths over the last four days have taken place in Anantnag district (16) followed by Kulgam (eight), Shopian (five), Pulwama (three), Srinagar and Kupwara (one each).

Normal life remained affected for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday due to the shutdown called by separatist groups to protest the civilian killings in the clashes with security forces. 

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained by police after they tried to defy restrictions and lead a march to Martyrs graveyard in downtown Srinagar. Geelani, who was under house arrest, was detained at the airport road outside his residence in Hyderpora, after he defied restrictions and tried to take out a march to commemorate the 85th anniversary of those who laid down their lives fighting the Aristocratic rule in the state in 1931.