Protests oppossing an Army post broke again in Handwara after the curfew was temporarily lifted.
Fresh protests erupted today in Kashmir's Handwara town where people have demanded that an Army post be removed after clashes that started on Tuesday with the allegation that a schoolgirl had been molested by a soldier. In the past week, five people have been killed in firing by security forces.
Handwara was placed under curfew again as hundreds of protesters came out on the streets the moment the restrictions were relaxed in the morning.
Among those killed in firing over the past few days were 15-year-old Arif Dar and young cricketer Nayeem Bhat.
Protests also erupted in Srinagar after four people were killed in clashes with the Army in Handwara in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI photo)
The Army, facing public anger, suspects a conspiracy behind the protests. Sources say the Army has decided to change its tactic and confine itself to counter-terrorism operations while keeping out of policing. Recently, it refused a request from the state to help the police in maintaining calm.
The Army suspects the protests are part of a plan to discredit the force and whip up trouble at a time when terrorists have become desperate.
Till March this year, 26 terrorists are believed to have been killed in Handwara and Kupwara. Sources say terrorists are finding it difficult to operate in former hotbeds of militancy. Intelligence reports indicate that money is being pumped into the Valley to fuel protests.
In 2010 about 100 people were killed when security forces fired upon protesters trying to storm installations. Investigations later revealed that ISI had asked the separatist to trigger protest across the valley and create as much as unrest as possible. "It is sometime similar, but perhaps this time the sole focus is the Indian army," a top commander said.
In counter-terror operations too, the local police have been asked to handle flash protest by villagers.
Sources say the Army has said that removing its posts would weaken counter-insurgency ops in the Valley.
On Tuesday, after allegations that an Army jawan had molested a 15-year-old schoolgirl circulated in Handwara, a large group of protesters circled the main Army post and set it on fire. Refuting the charge, the Army released a video filmed inside a police station, in which the girl says she was harassed by a schoolboy, not a soldier.
Her mother, however, said that the statement was made under pressure and the teen had "screamed at seeing a jawan" when she had gone to the washroom.
The mother has filed a petition before the high court accusing the police of illegally detaining the girl.
On the high court's directive, the police took the girl to a court on the weekend to record her statement. The police claim that the girl has again denied that she was molested and accused two local boys of harassing her. Police say a First Information Report or FIR has been registered against two persons including a school boy accused of spreading rumours and instigating protests and clashes.