Kashmir death toll 38 as curfew, shutdown continues

Srinagar: An injured youth died in a hospital here on Thursday, taking the death toll to 38 in the current bout of violence that has rocked the Kashmir Valley after the death of a local militant commander last week. The deceased was identified as Irshad Ahmed Dar of south Kashmir - the worst hit region in the days of street violence, the deadliest the Valley has seen in years. Dar succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS hospital in Srinagar where he was admitted two days ago. He had received bullet injuries during a clash with police in his village in Kulgam district, some 60 km from here. Police said there were no reports of fresh clashes on Thursday as the valley appeared calm amid continuous curfew and a shutdown called by separatists. "Curfew shall remain in force in all the major towns of the ten districts in the valley and old city areas of the Srinagar city," a senior official told IANS. Curfew was imposed in the valley on July 9 to control large scale violence following the death of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, 22, who was killed in a gunfight a day earlier along with two of his associates. Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Jammu region's Bannihal town also remained suspended for the sixth day. Cellphone and mobile Internet services continued to be suspended in large parts of the crisis-hit Valley in the wake of mass protests. All exams scheduled up to July 17 have been postponed and authorities said fresh dates would be announced later.