Normal life remains paralysed in Kashmir; toll rises to 49

Srinagar: Normal life remained paralysed in Indian-administered Kashmir for the 23rd consecutive day on Sunday due to separatist- sponsored strike as also curfew and restrictions in parts of the Valley where the unrest death toll rose to 49 with one more youth succumbing to injuries sustained a week back. Seventeen-year-old Ishfaq Ahmad Dar, who was injured during protests in Sopore town of Baramulla district on July 23, succumbed at SKIMS Hospital Soura on Sunday morning. "According to Superintendent of Police, Sopore, the said boy had fallen from a tree on July 23," a police spokesman said. He said an FIR with regard to spreading of rumours has also been lodged in police station Sopore. Meanwhile, curfew remained in force in five police station areas of capital Srinagar, Anantnag town, Pulwama town, parts of Baramulla town and Shopian town. Restriction on assembly of four or more people also continued in entire Kashmir which has been witnessing unrest ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. "Curfew is in place in five police station areas of Srinagar city -- Nowhatta, Khanyar, Batamaloo, Safakadal and Maharajgunj," a police official said. Due to the strike call given by the separatists, normal life remained paralysed elsewhere in the Valley for the 23rd consecutive day. The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call till August 5, the day it intends to take out a march. Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the Valley where the postpaid mobile telephony services have been restored across all networks. The incoming facility on prepaid connections has also been restored, but the outgoing calls are barred on such numbers. Meanwhile, a poster of hitherto-unknown group of stone-pelters has appeared in Srinagar, threatening girls against riding two-wheelers or they would be set on fire. "We request all girls, please do not use Scooty (two- wheeler). If we see any girl who rides Scooty, we will burn the Scooty as well as the girl," reads the poster by 'Sangbaaz (stone-pelters) Association Jammu and Kashmir' that was found pasted at the city centre. The so-called association has also warned shopkeepers, vendors and banks against opening their establishments "till the end of this fight". The group warned "for the last time" that they should "shut down or face consequences". It also asked all private transport to "cooperate with us". A police official said the poster is being examined and those behind it are being traced.