Jehangir Rashid /
S Tahir ul Haq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR / BARA-MULLA, Apr 15: One more youth got killed in the firing of security forces in the North Kashmir's Kupwara district today while as many others sustained injuries during protests that occurred in the different parts of valley.
Reports said that a group of youth came out in protest against the killing of four civilians at Handwara at Natnussa in the Kupwara district. The protesters resorted to high pitch sloganeering and raised uproar over the recent civilian killings.
While the protests were going on in the village the army personnel posted in a nearby camp started hoisting the tri-colour inside the camp. This was objected by the protesters and they asked the army personnel not to hoist the flag. This led to an altercation between the two sides and the situation became tense in no time.
Following the altercation the army personnel allegedly opened fire on the protesters. The firing led to injuries to four persons out of whom one succumbed to his injuries. The youth who sustained injuries in the incident were identified as Danish Ahmad, Javed Ahmad Mochi, Wajid Ahmad Lone and Arif Ahmad Dar.
Arif, a resident of Awoora-Kupwara succumbed to injuries later on. Situation of Javed and Wajid is also said to be critical, however, same could not be confirmed. Unconfirmed reports said that yet another youth succumbed to his injuries, but this too could not be confirmed by the time this report was filed.
Reports said that at least six youth sustained bullet injuries after security forces opened fire on a group of protesters at Hirri in the Kupwara district. Here too reports emanated that one of the injured succumbed to his injuries, however, this could not be confirmed. The situation is tense in the area with groups of agitating people mostly youth carrying out protest demonstration against the security forces. Reports said that massive protests broke out at many places of North Kashmir's Baramulla and Kupwara districts. Stone pelting incidents took place at Kupwara, Handwara, Langate, Drugmulla, Baramulla, Sopore, Sangrama, Khawaja Bagh, Bandipora, Palhallan and Pattan in North Kashmir.Protests were also recorded at Hyderpora, Sarie Bala, Hazratbal, Hajin, Budgam, Kangan and some areas in downtown Srinagar. The situation is tense across the Kashmir valley and people have expressed anguish over the civilian killings that have taken place in Kupwara district during this week. The security forces personnel came under intense stone pelting as they were withdrawing from some localities in downtown Srinagar.
The authorities had imposed restrictions in some areas of Srinagar and Kupwara districts. In the Srinagar district restrictions were imposed in areas coming under police stations of Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Kralkhud and Maisuma. In the Kupwara district restrictions were imposed in Kupwara, Handwara and Langate areas. Elsewhere, normal life was disrupted due to the call for protests given by separatists against the civilian killings.
A police spokesman said that there were massive violent protests in Handwara and Kupwara areas today. He said the mobs attacked the police and security force establishments and deployments. "More than 40 policemen and security forces men were injured. Despite severe provocations the deployment on ground exercised maximum restraint. However at Natnusa in Kupwara the mob tried to enter the forces camp and the Army had to resort to firing in which one person lost his life," said the police spokesman. The spokesman said that incidents of pelting were reported from Mir Mohalla, Hyhama Chowk, Kralpora in Kupwara, Kralgund, Magam in Handwara and Cement Bridge, Baramulla as well. |
