Four persons were killed and 70 injured today as police fired to quell violent protesters in curfew-bound Kashmir Valley where several separatists leaders were arrested to thwart a planned rally in Srinagar.Two youths - Showkat Ahmad Khanday and Basit Bashir - were killed in firing by security personnel to disperse stone-pelting mobs which defied curfew at Narbal on the outskirts of the city and in Pulwama town respectively, official sources said.Four persons with bullet injuries were admitted to Pulwama district hospital, they said. At Chootipora village in Kupwara district, an 18-year-old girl identified as Fehmeeda was killed when a bullet hit her during police firing on violent protesters, the sources said, adding the incident was being investigated. With the death of four persons, the toll in the violence has risen to four with at least 110 injured since Sunday when curfew was clamped in all 10 districts of the Valley to thwart the march by separatists to Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar.While separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq were arrested from their residences late Sunday night, JKLF leader Mohammad Yasin Malik was taken into custody this morning as he tried to defy curfew and move to Lal Chowk, the sources said. Protesting against the "highhandedness" of security forces, the Coordination Committee of separatists gave a call for a "complete shutdown" on Tuesday."There will be a complete shutdown tomorrow and people have been asked to observe a black out against the highhandedness of Indian forces and arrest of our leaders," Committee spokesman Masrat Alam told reporters over phone.In Hajan in Bandipora district, some protesters opened fire at security personnel forcing them to retaliate, an official spokesman said. At least four security personnel were injured in the incident, he said."A group of protesters tried to defy curfew and indulged in violence at Hajan. Four security force personnel received injuries as someone from the mob fired at them," the spokesman added. Sources said 20 persons were injured in the violence.At least 30 people were hurt in clashes and police firing at Choora village on Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway.Two persons each were wounded in police action against protesters at Kupwara district town and Beerwah in Budgam district, the sources said.Security forces used batons and fired in the air at Awantipora area of Pulwama district to disperse a large crowd which tried to defy the curfew and march towards Srinagar, the sources said adding five persons were injured .Four persons were injured in clashes between security forces and protesters in Kulgam district town, the sources said.Two photojournalists were also injured as they were roughed up by security forces in the city while they were discharging their professional duties.On Sunday, one person was killed in firing at Dalgate area of the city.Meanwhile, local dailies failed to hit the stands in the Valley owing to the curfew.
