Protests erupted in several parts of the Kashmir valley on Friday afternoon as fresh videos of demonstrations during Sunday’s bypoll in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency emerged, showing gruesome visuals of demonstrators getting shot.
The protests on Friday afternoon were held outside Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s old city where members of a separatist group raised slogans and demanded the release of the arrested youth.
Another protest was held in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, where youth attempted to take out a march but were intercepted by the security forces, leading to clashes. In south Kashmir’s Tral town too demonstrators clashed with the security forces.
The separatist leaders in the region had appealed to the people to congregate today in Budgam district, which has remained tense since seven civilians were killed during the bypoll on April 9.
The fresh protests in the region took place as new videos shot during Sunday’s bypoll emerged on social media sites — immediately after all Internet services were restored in the region.
The series of videos that have emerged during the past 24 hours have stoked anger as visuals show protesters getting shot outside polling stations.
In one video, protesters are seen throwing stones at security forces personnel when one of them gets shot. The video appears to be shot by a member of the polling staff, who are heard saying that the boy “is shot in the head”.
Another video that is shot in Srinagar shows a crowd of protesters surging towards a polling station before one of them is shot in the abdomen.
Most of the videos have been shot by protesters or pedestrians using their mobile phone cameras. In one video, a group of youth is seen escorting an armed paramilitary soldier to safety.
CM asks police to submit report
CM Mehbooba Mufti has expressed concern and anguish over the surfacing of a few videos reportedly from Budgam and has sought a detailed report from the police in this regard. Terming the display of acts in the videos unacceptable, the CM has asked the police to submit a detailed report about the incidents, so that necessary action was initiated.
Fresh protests in Valley as new videos emerge
