Updated on
Summary
Indian security forces released senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gillani after fresh violence erupted in Srinagar, capital of Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday when a mob set on fire a police barracks and damaged a police vehicle on the banks of the Dal Lake. Authorities had not imposed curfew or restrictions anywhere in the state for Eid in order to allow people to offer prayers and celebrate the festival. But soon after the Eid ul-Fitr prayers, a mob set ablaze the police post and damaged a Gypsy. Police fired in the air to disperse the mob. No casualties were, however, reported in the incident. The Kashmir Valley is witnessing a surge of separatist violence that forced the authorities to impose curfew frequently in several parts of the disputed region. About 69 persons have been killed in one of the worst outbreaks of violence since a separatist revolt against New Delhi broke out in Kashmir in 1989. A day earlier the leaders of two local groups joined hands against the unrest that has plagued Kashmir. They urged the government to give space for residents to protest and called for a political resolution to the region's woes. But after they staged a protest march against the deaths of locals, the situation spiraled out of control. Youths hurled stones at police who used tear gas to disperse them. Authorities had decided not to impose curfew for the Eid holiday to allow people to celebrate.
