Militants disguising as protestors attacked police and CRPF personnel deployed for law and order duties leaving two civilians dead and injuring 16 police and security force jawans on Friday. Elsewhere a youth was killed when security forces opened fire on the protestors when they tried to run over an army camp in Kupwara.
Police said militants attacked security forces dealing with the law and order problems at three places in Kupwara and Kulgam districts leaving two civilians dead and injuring 16 cops, one of them seriously on Friday.
Mehbooba Mufti government was banking on strict curfew and rain gods to keep off the protestors post Namaz in the valley on nervous Friday. Kashmir valley woke up to overcast sky and a drizzle which had given a flicker of hope for the law enforcing agencies in maintaining order on Friday.
But by the afternoon, things took a turn for worse with people defying curfew at a number of places in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir prompting the security forces to open fire.
"Militants took shelter of protesters and attacked police and CRPF personnel deployed for law and order duties at many places," a police spokesman said.
Giving details, police said militants lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately on police party which was dealing with violent protesters at Yaripora in Kulgam district.
"Seven police personnel and three civilians received gunshot and splinter injuries. Two civilian died of militant firing. The police party exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate to avoid civilian causalities," a police spokesman said.
Police said unruly mob attacked an army camp at Dragmulla Kupwara this afternoon. In tackling the mob three persons were injured, two of them succumbed to his injuries, adds police.
At Natnusa, Kupwara police said militants lobbed grenades on police and CRPF party which were dealing with violent protesters. Seven security personnel received splinter injuries and have been hospitalised.
A violent mob attacked an army party and tried to snatch the weapon near Khaitangan, Baramulla. Two persons got injured in this incident, said police.
The overall situation throughout the valley remained under control on Friday, though incidents of stone pelting and attacks on security force establishments were reported at many places. "A number of security force personnel and civilians sustained injuries," added police spokesman.
Strictest curfew remained imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley to prevent any escalation in the protests and street violence. Over 3,200 people including 1,500 security personnel have been injured in the street violence in the last one week.
Except BSNL, other mobile networks were suspended in Kashmir in view of nervous Friday. Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference leaders have extended the strike till Monday evening.