Srinagar: Para military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) shot dead another man in restive Anantnag district Wednesday evening while two more persons who were battling for their lives succumbed to their injuries at SKIMS in the day taking the death toll to 39 in last five days.
Reports said that CRPF opened fire on a group of protesters who had blocked Hanji Danter-road in Anantnag . The bullet hit one youth who was identified as Hilal Ahmad (25), s/o Ali Mohammad Sofi of Hanji Danter Harnag, Anantnag.
CMO Anantnag Dr Fazil Kochak confirmed the killing of Hilal Ahmed. He said that the youth was brought dead to district hospital.
Significantly the fresh killing came a day after Prime Minister Narender Modi and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti asked the security agencies to exercise restraint.
The death of Hilal has sparked another round of protests in the area with entire population out in the streets in defiance of curfew, reports said.
Earlier in the day two injured youth succumbed to their injuries while the body of another youth who had drowned while escaping forces during clashes, was retrieved from Awantipora.
Javaid Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Muhammad Lone, resident of Mishpora in Khudwani Kulgam, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Srinagar on Wednesday. Javaid was injured during protests at Tral on Tuesday after Govt forces had opened fire on protesters.
A youth from Hawoora Kulgam succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Srinagar on Wednesday morning. Hospital authorities identified the slain youth as Mushtaq Ahmed Dar son of Abdul Ahad a resident of Hawoora Mishpora Koimouh Kulgam. The youth according to sources was critically injured at Wonpoh when armed forces opened fire on protesters critically injuring Mushtaq Ahmed and another youth Wakil Ahmed Pala. Pala is battling for his life in the SKIMS. Doctors said his chances of survival are grim.
Meanwhile thousands of mourners assembled in the native village of the slain youth while the family alleged that the ambulance carrying the body of Mushtaq was detained by police for hours together, a charge denied by police.
Body of another youth, Zahoor Ahmad Mantoo, son of Sanaullah Mantoo, resident of Kakapora Pulwama, who had drowned in river on Sunday while escaping government forces during protests, was retrieved from river Jhelum at Awantipora.
With these four fresh deaths, the toll, after the killing of Burhan Muzzafar Wani, has climbed to 39. Two youth have died of drowning. The toll includes a police driver.
Meanwhile, over a dozen protesters suffered pellet injuries after armed forces, according to residents, went on rampage in Kanikadal Chotabazar area of Srinagar city.
According to an eyewitness, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, police smashed the window panes of three-storey building of local Masjid and beat up the people irrespective of their age and gender.
The policemen barged into the houses and thrashed inmates, he said and claimed that 35 people were injured after police fired pellets on them. Reports said that a large number of youth had staged a protest in the area.
In Central Kashmirs Ganderbal district, a youth identified as Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Latiwaza Yangoor, suffered pellet injury. He was immediately rushed to SMHS hospital. A doctor confirmed that the right side from head to the rib of this youth has been hit by pellets.
Clashes were also reported from Jamia market Sopore where separatist leaders also took out a procession and offered tributes to 13 July 1931 martyrs. Clashes also broke out in Bandipora and Kupwara where youth resorted to heavy stone-pelting on police and paramilitary forces.
At least two youth identified as Muhammad Amir and Abu Mohzib received pellet injuries in their faces at Palhalan Pattan. A doctor at Sub District Hospital Pattan said that both the youth were shifted to SMHS hospital as they had suffered grievous pellet injuries.
Reports said that in last two days alone some 24 youth have been wounded in pellet firing.
Reports said that in Kujjar hamlet of South Kashmirs Kulgam district, angry protesters
set ablaze the house of former Ikhwani turned SOG man Gowhar Tantray alias Gow Ikhwaini. Reports said people of the area were angry with Gow Ikhwani who allegedly was responsible for beating and harassing youth and elderly people, damaging public property, and misbehaving with women of the area.
Kokarnag area witnessed intense clashes between armed forces and youth. Locals alleged paramilitary CRPF men went berserk at Kokernag and beat up the inmates and ransacked the houses.
The clashes left scores of youths injured while at Shopian, a girl identified as Insha Mushtaq resident of Sedaw Shopian was critically injured after forces fired pellets towards youths who attacked the cavalcade of DIG South Kashmir. The doctors at SMHS Hospital here said that they are unable to operate the girl as pellets have struck her brain. She is very critical and we have put her on ventilator, said a doctor.
Meanwhile, the curfew and shutdown continued across Kashmir Valley amidst clashes and protests against the killings. The Srinagars Old City, Maisuma, Batamaloo and other sensitive parts remained under strict curfew and rest of the areas observed complete shutdown. The major parts of south Kashmir also reeled under curfew while north Kashmir mainly observed shutdown.
Clashes erupted between government forces and protesters at multiple places in Valley including at Sekidafar, Nowgam, Chanapora, Bagh-e-Mehtab, Choota Bazar, Khudwani, Kulgam, Putkha Sopore, Main Chowk Sopore, Iman Sahib, Shopian, Kakpora, Kralpora, Kupwara, Trehgam, Langate, Lalpora, Baramulla, Krusan and Papchan.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said: The situation in the valley remained under control today though some incidents of stone pelting were reported.
Meanwhile, the Hurriyat (M) and (G) chairmen Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik in a joint statement extended the shutdown call till Friday and called upon people to protest after Friday prayers.
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