| Day 4: One more youth killed in Kupwara, toll reaches 32 | | Kashmir on the edge | | 
Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 12: The death toll in the violence that continues to rock the Kashmir valley reached 32 today as one more person was killed in a firing incident in North Kashmir's Kupwara district. Two more persons sustained grievous injuries in this firing incident.
Reports reaching here said that groups of agitating youth took to streets in the Kupwara district and protested against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander, Burhan Muzaffar Wani. Burhan was killed along with his two associates at Bemdoora-Kokernag on July 8. Following his death the Kashmir valley has been on boil with more than 30 persons getting killed in anti-government protests. Majority of deaths have taken place in South Kashmir.
Reports said that protest demonstrations took place in the Kralgund, Langate, Mawar, Trehgam, Handwara, Kralpora, Lolab and Drugmulla areas of Kupwara district. Police and security forces lobbed dozens of smoke shells in order to bring the situation under control. The ding dong battles between the two sides were going on by the time this report was filed.
The forces had to open fire at some places in order to disperse the protesters. In one such incident a youth died after being hit by a bullet in the Kralpora area. The deceased has been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident of Batapora-Sopore. Some of the reports said that forces opened fire on the protesters when they tried to set ablaze an army bunker in the area.
A youth identified as Aamir Nazir Latoo succumbed to his injuries late last night at SMHS hospital here. Aamir, a resident of Baba Mohalla Bijbehara in Anantnag district, along with two other youth sustained serious injuries after being hit by bullets during a protest demonstration in Bijbehara on Monday evening. A post graduate student of Commerce in Delhi, Aamir had come to his home to celebrate Eid with his family.
Reports said that protests took place in many parts of Kashmir valley with people registering their anger over the killing of HM Commander and the civilians over the past three days. The protesters clashed with police and security forces at many of the places. Forces lobbed scores of smoke shells in order to disperse the protesters and resorted to aerial firing at some places.
In the Srinagar city protests were reported from Safa Kadal, Noor Bagh, Rawalpora, Hyderpora, Tengpora, Rambagh and Barzulla areas. Elsewhere protests were reported from Beerwah and Hardpanzoo in Budgam, Tral, Nowdal, Gadbugh, Batnag, Chindrigam, Shopian, Memander, Frisal, Yaripora, Ruhama, Rajpora, Newa Bijbehara, Goriwan, Sopore, Warpora, Khanpora Bridge, Baramulla, Papachan and Bandipora. Police lobbed smoke shells in order to disperse the protesters at these places.
A youth was injured during the clashes in Bijbehara area. The youth identified as Amar Ahmad Mir, son of Nissar Ahmad Mir, resident of Goriwan Bijbehara was injured during the clashes and was shifted to the hospital. The youth received pellet injuries in his eye and hand and has since been referred to SMHS hospital for specialized treatment.
A police spokesman said that the situation in Kashmir valley remained under control today though some incidents of arson and mob attacks were reported. The spokesman said that stray and intermittent incidents of stone pelting were reported from Tral, Nowdal, Gadbugh, Batnag, Chindrigam, Shopian, Memander, Frisal, Yaripora, Ruhama, Rajpora, Newa Bijbehara, Goriwan, Exchange Road Beerwah, Main Chowk Sopore, Warpora, Khanpora Bridge, Baramulla, Langate Trehgam, Papachan and Bandipora.
"Miscreants set ablaze a police guard room at Gadbugh, a minority picket guard room at Batnag, Tral, and a guard room of police post at Ruhama in Pulwama. Miscreants lobbed a petrol bomb on CRPF and Police Party deployed at Gasi Mohalla near Cement bridge Safa Kadal, Srinagar," said the spokesman.
The spokesman said that at Kralpora-Kupwara a mob attacked the police station and set on fire a police vehicle in which police men got trapped. While dealing with the incident one person was injured who later on succumbed to his injuries, he said.
The spokesman said that during stone pelting on police and CRPF deployment a stone pelter namely Arhan Mir resident of Bijbehara picked up a tear smoke shell, which exploded in his hand due to which he was injured.
Meanwhile, normal life continues to be paralyzed in Kashmir following the imposition of curfew like restrictions in many parts and strike called for by the separatists against the killing of civilians following Burhan's death. Due to the enforcement of restrictions and strike each and every sphere of civilian activity was affected in the Kashmir valley.
In the Srinagar city curfew like restrictions were imposed in areas falling under the police stations of Nowhatta, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Maisuma and Batmaloo. Curfew like restrictions were imposed in all the major districts and towns of South Kashmir that include Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Tral, Kokernag, Achabal and Dooru.
In the other parts of the Kashmir valley the life virtually came to a standstill due to the strike call given by the separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik against the killing of Burhan and civilians since Friday evening. All the government offices and commercial establishments including banks remained closed in the valley. Public transport was also off the roads with only few private vehicles and ambulances moving on the roads.
In the meantime the cops missing from the police post at Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district are yet to be traced. These cops went missing on Saturday when a mob attacked the post and torched it while decamping with some of the arms and ammunition. |
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