Srinagar, March 24
While curfew restrictions in Baramula continued today, there were reports of protest demonstrations in Srinagar and several major towns of north Kashmir against the alleged desecration of the holy Quran in Delhi recently. The police lobbed teargas shells at several places here to quell demonstrators indulging in stone pelting and raising religious slogans. Senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah, was arrested along with a group of his supporters here this afternoon after he held protest demonstrations in the central Lal Chowk area against the alleged sacrilege of the holy book and excesses by the police in the Beerwa area of Budgam district.

There was no relaxation in curfew in the north Kashmir district headquarters of Baramula today. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the town, according to the police.

Curfew was imposed in the town yesterday following the death of one person and injuries to two others when security force personnel opened fire on a procession demonstrating against the alleged sacrilege of the Quran. The police said that the death of one person led to further protests and violence, in which a place of worship and some houses were set on fire. A police spokesman stated here this evening that the circumstances leading to the firing and killing of one civilian and injury to another were being investigated.

Other major towns of Baramula and Kupwara districts in north Kashmir, including Kupwara, Sopore, Bandipore and Pattan, witnessed protest demonstrations. The police said the situation was under control. A complete shutdown was also observed in these towns against the alleged sacrilege. A complete shutdown was also observed in Anantnag town of south Kashmir and other major towns of the district.

Senior separatist leader and chief of the Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, was held by the police at Residency Road here this afternoon after he tried to take out a procession towards the UNMOG office. A group of his supporters, including men and women, also raised slogans against the police for its alleged excesses in Beerwa and other adjoining areas of the central district of Budgam. The demonstrators alleged that the police indulged in harassment of women and victimised youths of the area.

The police and paramilitary forces patrolled sensitive areas of Baramula and Poonch town where curfew continued without any relaxation after yesterday’s violence as the situation remained tense but under control.

People took to the streets in Pattan and Sopore townships of Baramula and blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Baramula national highway. The police used batons to disperse the protestors.

A massive demonstration was held in Kupwara district town where shops and business establishments were closed and traffic came to a standstill.