However, violence again erupted in the summer capital Srinagar during the relaxation period with mobs attacking the Indian security forces with rocks and stones as they were mopping up their deployments here this evening.
The Indian paramilitary central reserve police force (CRPF) troopers fired rubber bullets to quell the violence resulting in serious injuries to two youth, one of whom identified as Anis Ahmad Mir was shifted to Soura medical institute where attending doctors said he had suffered a bullet wound in his leg and a teargas splinter in his eye.
Mobs also gathered in various localities and in various mosques shouting pro-freedom slogans.
Senior police officers said the decision to continue the curfew relaxation or not would be taken Saturday morning depending on how the situation develops during night.
This is the first curfew relaxation in summer capital Srinagar and other towns since it was imposed on Tuesday evening.
Post Friday prayer violence broke out in north Kashmir Baramulla, south Kashmir Kakpora, and Shopian towns while protests were also held in other towns.
Security forces fired rubber bullets in north Kashmir Baramulla town where curfew-like-restrictions were in force as mobs indulged in heavy stone pelting on the police critically injuring a youth who was rushed to Srinagar for specialized treatment.
The violence also left 11 cops including an officer wounded.
Security forces fired warning shots and resorted to repeated baton charges to disperse stone pelting mobs in the south Kashmir Kakpora town this afternoon.
Police said the mobs shouting “go India, go back” and pro-freedom slogans indulged in heavy stone pelting on the police and CRPF troopers injuring ten security men including an assistant commandant.
Police said 13 persons were also wounded in the clashes.
Friday prayers could not be offered in the historic Jamia Mosque and many other mosques across the Valley because of curfew restrictions.
The authorities this afternoon issued curfew passes to the media men to allow them to discharge their professional duties here.
The Kashmir Valley went without newspapers for the second day today as the curfew passes of the media men had been canceled.
The local press has in a statement “denounced the government claim that restrictions on the media had been lifted” and announced suspension of their publication because of insufficient number of curfew passes having been issued to them and continued attacks on media.
The army is assisting the civil authorities in enforcing curfew and maintaining peace in the capital city.
The residents in Srinagar are facing acute shortages of essential commodities because of continued curfew restrictions in the city.
