- Forces kill 4 youth in Beerwah, another in Anantnag; death toll rises to 66
- 286 injured across Valley, 2 youth battling for life
- Curfew, shutdown continues for 39th day
- Army ‘beats people to pulp’ in Ganderbal
- Huge pro-freedom rallies held in several areas
Government forces killed five civilians, four in central Kashmir’s Beerwah area and another in south Kashmir’s Anantnag– on Tuesday, further escalating the tension prevailing in the Valley after killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
With the fresh killings, the death toll of people killed in the ongoing unrest has risen to 66 while 286 people were injured in forces action on protesters today. Two critically injured youth are battling for life in hospitals.
Four civilians were killed and two dozen injured when police and CRPF men fired on people in Aripathan, Beerwah area of Budgam district.
According to locals, police and CRPF men fired indiscriminately on people at 7.50 am when no protests or stone pelting was going on in the area.
They said three youth died on spot while another succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Ashraf Wani of Hazarpora, Javaid Ahmad Najar, Manzoor Ahmad Lone and Javaid Ahmad Sheikh all residents of Aripanthan.
Two critically injured youth are battling for life in SKIMS hospital.
The hospital sources identified them as Farooq Ahmed and Touseef Ahmed, both residents of Aripanth. “Both were operated for bullet injuries in their heads”.
The killings sparked massive protests in the area. Later, thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain youth amidst chanting of pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans.
Another youth identified as Amir Ganie son of Muhammad Yusuf Ganie of Naidpora was killed when forces opened fire at protesters at Larkipora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Hospital sources said that Amir was brought dead to the hospital.
At least 32 persons were also injured in the forces firing in Larkipora and were hospitalized. According to doctors, who attended on the injured, 11 out of 32 had sustained bullet injuries.
With the five killings today, the death toll of people killed in ongoing unrest in the Valley has risen to 66. Over 8000 including more than 4500 civilians have been injured in the clashes between security personnel and youth.
The unrest has been triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in South Kashmir’s Kokernag area.
After the fresh killing, authorities imposed tough curfew and restrictions in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley to thwart people from staging anti-India demonstrations.
Thousands of police and CRPF men were deployed across the Valley to enforce the curfew. The cops had placed barricades and concertina wires on the roads to foil any protests.
However, people defied curfew and restrictions at many parts of the Valley and staged protest demonstrations.
Clashes broke out between youth and force personnel in Khurhama and Baroosa areas of Ganderbal district. The cops fired tear smoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesters. At least 30 people were injured in the forces action and 10 of the injured were referred to Srinagar hospitals.
The residents of Khurhama alleged that army men barged into the houses in the village and beat and harassed the inmates. “16 people were injured in the army beating. Four injured were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment,” they said.
Locals said force personnel have smashed windowpanes of almost every house in the area besides ransacking the household goods of many houses.
Batmaloo and its adjoining areas also remained on boil and clashes took place between youth and cops in the area throughout the day.
17-year-old Yasir Ahmed of S D colony Batamaloo was shot dead by forces on Monday evening. Since then people have been coming out on roads and staging anti-India demonstrations.
The clashes took place between youth and force personnel in South Kashmir, Srinagar, Budgam and many parts of North Kashmir.
As per official sources, 286 people were injured in forces action today.
SMHS received 15 injured youth, all of them had received pellet injuries. The injured were mostly from south Kashmir.
The SKIMS (JVC) hospital also received 18 referral cases from Ariparthan, Beerwah. The injured had received bullets in abdomen and chest as per hospital sources and some of them were hit by pellets.
SKIMS soura received four referral cases and two of them are critical.
A woman in south Kashmir’s Anantnag main town was hit by a pellet when police fired pellets toward her house.
The lady was in her kitchen when policemen resorted to pellet firing. The pellets left her grievously injured.
In North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, clashes took place in and around Azad Gunj, Cement Bridge and old town Baramulla.
Peaceful protests were also taken out from Sopore town. The absentia prayers were also held in Jamia lawns for the five youth killed in forces firing on Tuesday.
A peaceful protest was also held after magrib prayers in the town. It was led by Huriyat leaders
Protests were also held in Bandipora and Kupwara districts as well. Many protesters were injured in forces firing in both the districts.
Candle light vigils were organized in evening in Kaloosa, Argam, Ajas, Papchan, Nowpora and Aajar. The protests remained peaceful.
A protest march was also taken out by Traders Federation Bandipora from main town Bandipora to Nowpora chowk. The shopkeepers pledged to support ongoing resistance moment.
In Larkipora area of Anantnag, a local Army man’s house was set ablaze by locals after they came to know that he was part of the 19 RR Unit, which fired on the procession in which a youth Amir was killed in afternoon.
Clashes also took place between youth and cops in Khanbal, Kulgam, Shopian, Qazigund and Pampore.
Pro freedom rallies were also held across all south Kashmir districts.
Thousands of people thronged to slain Suhail’s residence in Shopian today. The youth succumbed few days back to injuries sustained by him on August 2 when security guard of SDM Ramban had fired on a group of youth in Shopian
People reached his house to observe his Chelum on Tuesday.
Owing to curfew and restrictions imposed by authorities and shutdown called by separatists, life in Valley remained crippled for 39th consecutive day today.
All shops, business establishments, educational institutes remained closed while public transport remained off the roads.
Mobile and internet services baring BSNL post-paid services continued to remain suspended.
South Kashmir
As Kashmir was mourning the death of four civilians in Budgam, the Army shot dead a 15-year-old-boy at Larkipora in Dooru area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Witnesses said locals were protesting against the alleged atrocities by Army in the area. “The Army had entered into the residential houses and broke windowpanes of dozens of houses. The atrocities triggered protests followed by clashes,” they said.
“The Army resorted to indiscriminate firing in which a boy Amir Yousuf Ganai, 15, s/o Muhammad Yousuf of Naidpora, Larkipora sustained a bullet injury. He was brought dead to district hospital Anantnag.”
Four others also sustained bullet injuries in the Army firing while seven others were beaten and then hospitalized.
Talking to Kashmir Post, the Army admitted that the boy got killed in firing by its soldiers. “We regret the killing of a local boy. The Army men came under heavy stone pelting at Larkipora, forcing us to resort to firing. The killing is unfortunate,” an army official said.
Reports said clashes and protests erupted against the killing of the boy at Larkipora where protesters set ablaze the house of a local Sajad Ahmed, who works with Army. Locals said Sajad was part of soldiers who allegedly resorted to ransacking of residential houses in the area.
Reports said Army also allegedly broke windowpanes of many houses in Dialgam village.
Massive protests erupted at Anantnag district late in the evening. Locals said earlier in the day, strict curbs were in place across the town.
Protests were going on in Pampore area of Pulwama district, when this report was filed.
In Tral, reports said, people took out series of pro-freedom rallies in various places. Clashes were reported from Muran Chowk Pulwama while a protest march was held from Ganaipora to Batpora in Shopian where forces intercepted the rally near an Army camp and resorted to tear-gas shelling. Late night reports said protests were also held in Bijbehara, Koimoh, Khudwani, Redwani and other villages of Anantnag and Kulgam districts.
Srinagar
Stringent curbs were in place across Srinagar with spools of concertina wire placed on all the main roads. Police had blocked all main roads in city centre near Jehangir Chowk, Ghanta Ghar, Residency Road, Dalgate, Rajbagh and other areas.
Similar restrictions were in place across old Srinagar. “They (forces) didn’t even allow ambulances to move,” a doctor who was waiting for a vehicle to reach SMHS hospital said.
Witnesses said heavy deployment was in place in uptown and old city areas to prevent pro-freedom rallies from taking place.
Reports said late evening clashes were reported from Lasjan, Soiteng, Batamaloo, Bemina, Chattabal, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Kaka Sarai, and other areas of the city. Reports of torch processions being held poured in from Nowgam area. Similar reports came in from Hyderpora and Rambagh areas.
North Kashmir
An all-women protest rally was taken out in Ajas area of Bandipora district. The rally marched through all big and small roads, lanes and by-lanes.
Amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protesters demanded an immediate end to civilian killings in Kashmir. The rally concluded peacefully.
Meanwhile, people staged a peaceful protest at Gulshan Chowk and Nowpora Chowk of the district. A complete shutdown was observed amid the strict curfew for the 39th consecutive day in Sumbal and Hajin areas of the district. Reports said night protests were witnessed in Onangam, Kaloosa, Batpora, Nowpora, and other areas of Bandipora district while clashes were reported from Kaloosa and Nathpora areas.
Reports said in Baramulla district, strict curbs were in place while clashes were reported from Azadgunj and Palhallan areas in the evening.
In Sopore, people, including traders’ community staged a peaceful sit-in against the civilian killings.
Reports of evening clashes poured in from Batpora, Arampora, Tujjar Sharief, main chowk, Krankshivan and other areas of Sopore.
Reports said clashes were witnessed in Lalpora, (Lolab), Sogam, Takipora, and other areas. A peaceful protest was held in Kupwara and Handwara towns against the civilian killings. Reports said an all-women rally was held in Kupwara town that ended peacefully.
