Afzal hanging protests: Fresh violence in Kashmir, 5 injured

Srinagar: At least five persons were injured as fresh protests broke out in Kashmir on Tuesday against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru even as authorities relaxed curfew for three hours in some parts of the Valley, officials said. According to the officials, of the five injured, three were seriously wounded and had to be hospitalised.

A youth, identified as Muzamil Rather, was hit in the eye by a pellet fired by security forces while chasing a group of stone-pelting protesters in Sheeri area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, the officials said, adding that he was shifted to SMHS hospital for treatment. The doctors at the hospital said Rather had suffered extensive damage to his left eye and might lose its sight.

Two more youths, identified as Abid and Tahir, were admitted to superspeciality SKIMS hospital in Srinagar with head injuries sustained during clashes that took place in Baramulla town in afternoon, the officials said.

According to the officials, of the five injured, three were seriously wounded and had to be hospitalised.

Although minor clashes were reported from several areas in north Kashmir, the situation across the Valley was peaceful overall, they said.

Three persons were killed and over 50 others, including 23 policemen, were injured in clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies in the wake of Guru's hanging on Saturday.

Meanwhile, authorities relaxed curfew for three hours in seven police station areas of the Valley which had largely remained unaffected from the protests against Guru's hanging. "Curfew has been relaxed in areas under jurisdiction of Ram Munshi Bagh, Rajbagh, Kothibagh, Shergarhi and Saddar police stations from 4 pm," a police spokesman said.

He said the situation during the curfew relaxation will be reviewed before taking a decision on providing similar relief in other areas of the Valley.

The spokesman said curfew was also relaxed in Handwara town of north Kashmir's Kupwara district from 2 pm onward and in central Kashmir's Budgam town from 4 pm onward. He said the relaxation period passed off peacefully in all areas with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.

Curfew was imposed in Kashmir on Saturday as a precautionary measure, hours before Guru was hanged inside Tihar Jail in Delhi.

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