India imposes curfew, cut telephone services in IHK

Indian authorities clamped a curfew across most of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) for the first day of the Islamic month of Ramazan on Sunday and partially cut telephone services to thwart protests over the killing of a freedom fighter.

The lockdown in the valley crippled life on the first day of the Islamic holy month after widespread violence over the killing of Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in a gunfight with Indian forces. The forces in riot gear erected barricades in Srinagar, and other towns in southern parts to prevent people from reaching the funeral.

But thousands of mourners defied the security curbs on Sunday to attended the burial of the freedom fighter in his hometown amid anti-India and pro-independence slogans. Srinagar’s central mosque remained shut and devotees were barred from offering prayers on the first day of the Ramazan.

“Restrictions have been put in place in some areas to maintain law and order,” police chief Shesh Pal Vaid said. Bhat and a 16-year-old associate were killed in a gunfight near his native village in Tral area. A protester was shot dead by troops during clashes as hundreds of villagers tried to break the security cordon to help the fighters to escape.

“Forces have blocked all roads to restrict people to their areas,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama, a neighbouring district of Tral. The authorities snapped internet mobile services and calling services Saturday just hours after a month-long ban on 22 social media sites like Facebook and Twitter ended.

All educational institutions have been ordered to remain closed on Monday in the Kashmir Valley. The Hurriyat has also called for a protest shutdown on Sunday and Monday. They have appealed people to march to Tral town on May 30 to offer funeral prayers and show solidarity with the slain Kashmiri fighters, both of whom belonged to Rathsuna village of Tral tehsil.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the disputed state, where most people favour independence from India.