M A I N   N E W S

Ramban clash victims buried amidst protests
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria/TNS

3 FIRs against BSF, J-K Police At least three FIRs have been registered against the BSF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel at the Gool police station. They have been charged under Sections 295, 452, 307 and 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code. The BSF has also lodged an FIR at the Gool police station. Valley on the boil Curfew was imposed in the Valley as protests broke out in several areas of north, south and central Kashmir on Friday over Ramban killings Ten J&K Police personnel, seven CRPF men and five civilians were injured in protests Demonstrations were held in Bandipora, Kupwara and Baramulla districts in north Kashmir, and Shopian and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir

Jammu, July 19
The four persons killed in clashes with the BSF yesterday were laid to rest in their villages today amid demonstrations against alleged high-handedness of security forces in Ramban town, Banihal and Gool.

The four — Manzoor Ahmad Shan, a resident of Gool; Abdul Latief, a resident of Dharam; Javed Ahmad of Bhimdassa and Farooq Ahmad Beg of Salbala — were killed when security forces opened fire as a mob attempted to storm a BSF camp.

“Around 4,000 people attended the burials of Manzoor Ahmed Shan in Gool and Farooq Ahmed Beg at Salbala amid sloganeering against the BSF,” said Ghulam Ahmed, a resident of Banihal. Gool remained peaceful as the Imam of the local Jama Masjid pleaded for calm, he added.

The two others — Abdul Latif and Javed Ahmed — were laid to rest in their villages, Dharam and Bhimdassa.

“While Ramban remained under curfew, it was not enforced strictly to enable the burial of those killed in the incident,” said a senior police officer of Ramban.

Security forces were deployed along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, particularly in Banihal, Gool and Ramban town.

“Some areas such as Maitra observed a partial shutdown in protest against the killings. Banihal town along the national highway observed a complete shutdown. Around 10,000 people held a procession after Friday prayers,’ said a police officer.

Nearly 25 hamlets in Ramban district also witnessed peaceful protests after Friday prayers. People blocked the highway demanding action against the security forces, he added. The state administration today suspended the Amarnath Yatra from Jammu after the national highway was closed for vehicular traffic last evening.

“The pilgrims will be allowed to travel from Jammu once the situation turns normal,” said a civil administration official. Director Tourism Saujanya Sharma said around 1,400 Amarnath pilgrims had been put up at the Yatri Niwas base camp here and were being looked after by the administration.

“The situation is under control but there have been protests in some areas,” said Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Rajesh Kumar.

A civil administration official from Ramban said the BSF had vacated the Dharam camp.