Kupwara:
On a day when four people have been killed in Kashmir in clashes with security forces in Kupwara, Sopore and Pattan, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cancelled a meeting of the unified headquarters in protest against the latest civilian deaths.
However, the Chief Minister's office has now told NDTV that the Unified HQ meet will be held tomorrow. The reason they say it was cancelled was because the police and paramilitary forces were busy in the field.
There have been at least a dozen clashes in Srinagar between security forces and protesters. Today is the first Friday in the holy month of Ramazan, and thousands of people came out to attend the prayers at Srinagar's Jamia Masjid.
In Kupwara, a teenager was killed and a 47-year-old woman was injured when paramilitary forces opened fire on people coming out of a mosque after dawn prayers this morning.
According to eyewitnesses, security personnel challenged people coming out of the mosque, asking them why they were defying the undeclared curfew. This led to an argument and the security personnel opened fire and killed a 10th class student.
After the boy's killing, the area is tense.
In Pattan, a 55-year-old, who was injured in a firing incident this morning, has died in hospital of his injuries.
Two more people were killed when the security personnel allegedly opened fire protesters in Sopore.
The government allowed people to attend prayers at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid today after several weeks of break due to continued curfew and restrictions in the city. People from many areas of Srinagar reached the mosque both individually and in processions.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered the Friday sermon, and reiterated that protests will end only after New Delhi accepts the Hurriyat's proposals, including the withdrawal of forces and the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
"The government is talking about confidence building measures, we have made four proposals and unless these are addressed, our protests will continue," said Farooq.
The Hurriyat leader, who has been under continuous house arrest, had called for a march to Jamia Masjid today and had announced that he would offer prayers there, even if it meant defying restrictions.
This latest incidence of violence comes days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "If there is consensus among political parties on autonomy for the state, then it can be considered within the ambit of the Constitution."
The PM also said he was aware of the alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that it had to be removed. "People of the state must have a life of self-respect and dignity," he said.
The total number of people killed in violence in Kashmir in the last two months is now 55.