Kashmir toll rises to 76 as another youth succumbs to injuries

Srinagar: Another youth injured in clashes with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir succumbed on Tuesday raising the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 76.

Naseer Ahmed, 21, injured in clashes with the security forces in Seer Hamadan area of Anantnag district, succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

A teenager, identified as Musaib Majeed of Sonarwari village in Kupwara district, had succumbed to injuries during the night in a Srinagar hospital. Following the death, all mobile phone operations in Kupwara have been suspended.

Majeed had been injured in clashes with the security forces in Wadoora area of Sopore on September 4.

Around 50 people including civilians and the security forces were injured on Tuesday in clashes at various places in the Valley despite authorities imposing curfew-like restrictions in the old city areas of Srinagar and some other parts of the Kashmir Valley. A mob dismantled an abandoned security bunker in Srinagar.

The authorities had imposed curfew-like restrictions in six police station areas of Srinagar city including Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal, M.R. Gunj, Rainawari and Maisuma on Tuesday.

Although police said there was no curfew anywhere in the Valley on Tuesday, no pedestrian or traffic was allowed by the security forces in areas where restrictions were imposed.

The failure of the all-party delegation headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in cutting any ice with the separatists who are spearheading the nearly two-month long protest shutdown, has come as a big setback to peace efforts here.

All educational institutions, main markets, public transport and other businesses remained closed for the 59th consecutive day on Tuesday.

Banks, government offices and post offices have been functioning for the last 59 days with skeletal staff.

Meanwhile, the separatist leaders issued a fresh protest calendar asking people to continue the protest shutdown till September 16.