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After protests and spontaneous shutdowns were observed at several places in Kashmir following rumours of Article 35A being scrapped, J&K police, on 27 August, issued a statement appealing to people to maintain calm and to not pay heed to rumours.
"Some sections of media circulated news regarding Article 35A. The news is refuted as baseless. People are requested to maintain calm and not to pay heed to rumour. The main hearing is on 31 August,” the statement said.
Article 35A, which accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, is facing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court.
Article 35A was incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order.
He said announcements were made on loudspeakers that Article 35A has been scrapped and people were asked to observe a strike and come out to protest.
“Shops and other business establishments, which had opened this morning, downed shutters after rumours of Article 35A being scrapped spread like wildfire and were circulated on social media,” a police official said.
Stone-pelters clashed with security personnel in Anantnag and in the Safakadal area here in the wake of the rumours, he said.
The official said security forces are on the job to control the situation.
12 Injured in Clashes Across J&K Over Article 35A Scrapping Rumours
At least 12 people were injured after clashes broke out between protestors and security forces across Kashmir as many parts of the valley observed a spontaneous shutdown following "rumours" about scrapping of Article 35-A, police said.
People took to streets in many parts of the valley following a media report that the apex court will hear the petition challenging the validity of Article 35-A on Monday.
The protests turned violent at some places as people indulged in stone-pelting on security forces posted on law and order duties, officials said.
The security forces resorted to baton charging and fired tear smoke shells to chase away the protestors, they said, adding that pellet guns were used at some places to restore order.
The areas where protests took place included many parts of the city, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Budgam, Sopore and Ganderbal, the officials said.
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