- Chattabal youth killed by pellets, death toll crosses 60
- IG CRPF says cops involved in Riyaz’s killing won’t be spared
- Over 130 injured in clashes in Kulgam, 8 injured referred to Sgr hospitals
- Many injured in clashes in Pahalgam
- Curfew, restrictions, shutdown continue for 26th day
- Banihal, Bhaderwah observe strike against civilian killings
- Over 470 arrested in Kashmir: Police
Kashmir remained tense after the overnight killing of a youth at Lethpora in South Kashmir in police firing and death of a 23-year-old ATM guard from Chattabal area of downtown Srinagar due to pellets under mysterious circumstances.
With the fresh killings, the death toll of people killed in the ongoing unrest rose to 54. Meanwhile, curfew and restrictions remained in force in Valley for the 26th consecutive day on Wednesday with evening relaxation in the shutdown called by separatists.
Riyaz Ahmad Shah, a 23-year-old ATM guard from Guzarbal area of Chattabal, was killed under mysterious circumstances. His body was found near Government Medical College late last evening.
According to the doctors, who performed his autopsy, Riyaz had died of pellets.
They said they found around 360 pellets in his body.
His family accused CRPF men of killing Riyaz by firing on him from point blank range.
Riyaz’s killing triggered massive protests in Chattabal and adjoining areas. Thousands of people defied curfew and attended his funeral prayers in martyrs’ graveyard Eidgah amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.
Later, clashes broke out between youth and cops at Bagiyas, Chattabal. Police and CRPF men fired tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge to disperse the protesting youth.
Inspector General CRPF, Atul Karwal told Kashmir Post that his force will extend full support to J&K police in investigating the case.
“The culprit won’t be spared. Whosoever is found culpable won’t be spared. We are not going to shield anyone,” he said.
Earlier, on late Tuesday evening, a youth was killed and two others injured after a PSO of Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramban open fired on protestors in Lethpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
After the fresh killings, authorities re-imposed curfew in south Kashmir and parts of Srinagar and North Kashmir while restrictions were enforced in other parts of Valley to prevent people from taking to roads and staging anti-India demonstrations
Clashes broke out between youth and cops in HMT, Batamaloo, Hyderpora, Humhama, Nowgan, Bemina, Saraibal, Amira Kadal, Habba Kadal, Maharaj Bazar, Soura and some downtown areas in Srinagar.
During the clashes, police and CRPF men fired dozens of tear smoke shells and resorted to heavy baton charge.
People including men, women and children also took out protest rallies in Zewan and Zafaran Colony areas in outskirts of Srinagar. Chanting pro-freedom, pro-Islamic and anti-India slogans, the protestors demanded an end to civilian killings.
For the 26th consecutive day, life in Valley remained crippled due to curfew and restrictions imposed by authorities and shutdown called by the separatists.
South Kashmir
Massive clashes broke out in Adijan area of Kulgam district when police and CRPF men intercepted a rally of people and prevented them from marching towards DH Pora. The cops fired tear smoke shells, pellets and resorted to heavy baton charge on the processionists, who retaliated by pelting stones on them.
At least 130 people sustained injuries in the police action and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
“We got 32 injured and eight of them having pellet injuries were referred to Srinagar hospitals for treatment,” a doctor at District hospital Kulgam told Kashmir Post.
Four of the injured were rushed to Anantnag district hospital and the rest were being treated at local Sub-District Hospitals (SDH’s) and Public Health Centers (PHC’s) including SDH Qaimoh, PHC Nihama, PHC Mohanpora, SDH Damhal Hanjipora and a medical facility at Katrasoo village.
Police also set ablaze dozens of motorbikes and some cars, which were part of the rally.
Locals had called a prayer meeting at DH Pora in memory of civilian killed in police and CRPF firing during the ongoing unrest.
They termed use of force by police and CRPF men as totally unprovoked.
“As the rally reached Adijan village, a few Kilometers ahead of D H Pora, a police party led by SHO intercepted it and used force to disperse it. Not even a single stone was thrown before police used pellet guns on unarmed civilians,” they said.
Intense clashes were going on in DH Pora area while this report was being filed.
A police source revealed that SP Kulgam, Muhammad Irshad, was seen rebuking SHO concerned for undue use of force.
“They have been doing it peacefully and they would have done it like that today as well. What was the need to use such force,” an agitated SP was quoted as saying.
However, when contacted by Kashmir Post, SP said he does not remember any such conversation,
“We reprimand our juniors multiple times a day during law and order situation,” he said.
SP alleged that some miscreants at rally threw stones at the police and CRPF injuring many including the Commanding Officer (CO) of a CRPF unit.
“One of the injured cop is critical,” he said.
Earlier, four persons were injured in Kulgam district in the day when cops used force to disperse a protest demonstration.
Thousands of people also attended a congregation at Arwani village of Bijbehara in Anantnag. The local separatist leaders and religious clerics of all sects addressed the rally amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and waving of Pakistani flags.
The clashes also erupted in tourist resort of Pahalgam after police and CRPF men intercepted anti-India protest demonstration by people. The cops fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors, who retaliated by pelting stones on them. The clashes continued for some time.
Locals alleged that cops smashed windowpanes of many hotels in the area.
North Kashmir
Hundreds of people in Bandipora town staged demonstration against the civilian killings.
They offered Zuhar prayers at Gulshan Chowk and later chanted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
The protest demonstrations were also held in Sopore, Baramulla and Kupwara.
Shutdown in Banihal, Bhaderwah
Banihal began a four day shutdown today against the civilian killings in Kashmir.
All shops and business establishments in Banihal town and its adjoining areas remained closed.
The local elders have called for a shutdown for four days in Banihal against the civilian killings and continued curfew in Kashmir.
Bhaderwah also observed shutdown against the civilian killings in Kashmir.
Shops, business establishments and some private schools of Muslims remained closed in Bhaderwah.
The shutdown was called by Anjuman-e-Isalamia Bhaderwah to express solidarity with people of Kashmir and condemn civilian killings at the hands of force personnel.
Protest demonstrations were also held in Rajouri against the killings in Kashmir.
Police Version:
A police spokesman said during the day, 15 incidents of stone pelting were reported across the valley.
He said the incidents were reported from Srinagar, Kulgam, Sopore, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam and Awantipora.
“During these law and order situations 12 persons, 40 police and security personnel were injured,” the spokesman said.
He said as a precautionary measure curfew/restrictions were put in place in some police stations of Srinagar, Anantnag town, Bongam in Shopian, Khanpora in Baramulla, Awantipora and Pampora towns.
The spokesman said in its continuous drive against miscreants, 349 accused persons have been arrested in the valley so far.
“Besides, 122 have been detained under prohibitory provisions of law,” he said.
After protests and stone pelting incidents, police has launched a crackdown on youth and there are reports that hundreds of youth have been detained across the Valley.
Police have placed under house arrest Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, DFP chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah and many other separatist leaders and activists have also been detained by the police.
