The police block protesters in Kupwara demonstrating against the Handwara killings. Yawar Kabli

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/New Delhi, April 16

The Kashmir Valley continued to be tense today with protests against Handwara killings, during which five persons have already died, spreading to Ganderbal.  The police and the CRPF resorted to a lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells to quell the demonstrators. Handwara and Kupwara towns, that are under restrictions, remained tense.There were stray incidents of stone-pelting in Gojwara, Soura and Narabal in Srinagar and at Barsu in Ganderbal district. At least 10 persons, including eight policemen, were injured. Any decision to remove restrictions in areas under the Rainawari, M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Maisuma, Kralakhud and Safakadal police stations of Srinagar would be taken tomorrow, an official said. Concerned over the loss of lives during the past four days, the Centre held a review meeting today and decided to sens an additional 3,600 paramilitary personnel in J&K. Twelve companies arrived in the troubled state today and 24 more will reach  tomorrow. The meeting also deliberated on the implementation of  the package announced by PM Narendra Modi to give a fillip to the state’s economy and to generate jobs. Meanwhile, CM Mehbooba Mufti met the bereaved families in Handwara and assuring them of justice.