Kashmir unrest: At least 20 injured in clashes at Bijbehara, Bandipora; strict curfew in place

With curfew imposed across Kashmir, security personnel refused to all people to step out and offer prayers on Eid.

Kashmir: For the first time in history, major mosques in the state have been shut on Eid. (File/Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

At least 20 people were injured in clashes that were reported early Tuesday morning in Kashmir’s south Bijbehara and Bandipora.

With curfew imposed across Kashmir, security personnel refused to all people to step out and offer prayers on Eid. In Bandipora, officials at a medical facility said there was one casualty but police officials refused to confirm the same.

The clashes, that began at around 8 am this morning, is still underway. Curfew imposed Tuesday is the strictest across Srinagar since curfew was first imposed in July this year. This is also the first time in history that all major mosques and shrines are closed on Eid in Kashmir.  Locals, however, will be allowed to offer prayers from small mosques in their locality.

Restrictions across the districts of Kashmir were imposed by the authorities in view of a call by Separatists for a march to the local offices of the United Nations, coinciding with the global body’s opening of its 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York.

Security personnel have pressed helicopters and drones into service that are keeping a bird’s eye vigil from the skies. On Monday, the government ordered a shutdown of Internet services of all telecom networks and also mobile services except that of the state-run BSNL for 72 hours.