M A I N   N E W S

Violence in Valley post-hanging, curfew imposed
36 persons wounded in day-long clashes between protesters and policemen at several places
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Firing along LoC The Pakistani Army is said to have targeted dozens of Indian forward posts along the Line of Control in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch on Saturday. Defence PRO, Jammu, SN Acharya, however, said the firing sounds were from the Pakistani side.

Srinagar, February 9
The Kashmir Valley was put under indefinite curfew today and Internet services were snapped as precautionary measures by the state government apprehending a backlash after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

At least 36 persons, including 23 policemen, were injured in day-long clashes between protesters and police forces as news of Guru’s hanging broke in the Valley.

The authorities imposed curfew in the capital city and other towns of the Valley a couple of hours before the execution.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said police and paramilitary forces had been asked to be ready to tackle any possible fallout of the execution. However, the security forces were told to maintain maximum restraint.

Clashes between the protesters and police forces took place in parts of north Kashmir, including Sopore and Baramulla. A mob set afire a newly-built government rest house in Rafiabad area of Baramulla. Mobs also took to the roads in the Qazigund area on Srinagar-Jammu highway, smashing windowpanes of passing vehicles.

Shock and anger was explicit in Guru’s home village at Jageer-Doabgah near Sopore. His family, relatives and neighbours were in shock and said they weren’t informed about the execution.