Sporadic violence continued in Kashmir today, leaving one more person dead and raising the unrest toll to 25, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation and appealed for calm with the hope that no innocent person would face any inconvenience or suffer any loss.
Five other people were injured and several police structures were damaged in violence and arson by mobs at nearly two dozen places in the valley, a police spokesman said, while describing the situation as "under control".
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reached out to the parents, as a "parent myself", appealing to them to restrain their children from participating in such violent protests as these lead to "unfortunate" loss of lives.
In a televised address, she said anti-social elements were out to misguide common people, leading them to violence, which provokes reaction by security forces.
In Delhi, Modi held a high-level meeting to review the Kashmir situation soon after his return from his five-day Africa visit. It was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The Prime Minister voiced concern over the situation in the state where the death toll rose to 25 in the violent protests and clashes with security forces, triggered by the killing of Hizbul militant commander Burhan Wani last Friday.
"He (PM) has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalise. He (PM) also expressed hope that no innocent person should face any kind of inconvenience or loss," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said after the meeting.
Modi said the Centre will provide whatever help is needed by the state government, according to Jitendra Singh.
The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Amarnath Yatra.
The Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley.
"The Prime Minister kept taking updates about the Jammu and Kashmir situation during his visit abroad. The biggest evidence of his concern is that he called this review meeting within hours of returning from the tour and took details," Singh told reporters.
In the valley, one person was killed when policemen opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob outside Kralpora police station in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, the police spokesman said.
"A mob attacked the Police Station and set on fire a Police vehicle in which policemen got trapped. While dealing with the incident, one person was injured who later on succumbed to injuries," he said.
Adil Ahmad Mattoo, who was injured in the firing incident at Bijbehara yesterday, succumbed to injuries at SMHS hospital here late last night, the spokesman said.
Mattoo was reportedly pursuing M.Com course from Delhi University and had returned home recently to celebrate Eid- ul-Fitr with his family.
