Srinagar: A teenager was killed and over 60 others were injured as fresh violence erupted in the Kashmir valley, where life remained crippled since July 9, a day after HizbulMujahideen (HM) commander BurhanWani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag.
Security forces burst teargas shells and opened fire in which several people were injured,sources said adding the injured were rushed to hospital where one of them identified as Waseem Ahmad died.
However, residents alleged that villagers were working in their paddy fields when three security force vehicles stopped at Nadihal and security forces opened unprovoked firing on them. A number of persons were injured who were shifted to hospital where Waseem Lone, a 19-year-old was declared brought dead.
The villagers were there was absolutely no demonstration or procession when the firing by security forces took place.
Immediately after the incidents hundreds of people, including women, from nearby villages joined the demonstration against the security forces, raising pro freedom slogans.
According to the police sources, an Army vehicle on way from Handwara to Baramulla was attacked by protesters with stones. The Army retaliated by firing on them resulting in the death of the youth.
With this fresh killing, a total of 93 persons, mostly youths, have been killed and over 9500 others wounded in security force and police action since the killing of militant leader, BurhanWani.
Sources said hundreds of people took to streets at Nadihal Rafiabad in Baramulla district, raising pro freedom slogans.
Meanwhile, security forces burst teargas shells to foil Charar-e-Sharief Challo in the central Kashmir district of Badgam, called by separatists in support of the demand for holding right to self-determination.
All roads leading to Charar-e-Sharief were closed with barbed wire since early this morning to prevent people from going to the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh NooruddinWali, where the rally was to be held after Friday prayers today.
Hundreds of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed though there was no official curfew in the area. People coming from different parts of the district were being directed to return back to their homes by security forces.
However, security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge repeatedly to disperse the demonstrators who refused to disperse and tried to march towards the Shrine.
The demonstrators, raising "pro-freedom" and Islamic slogans, clashed with the security forces at several places, pelting stones. About a dozen persons were injured, they said, adding some of them were referred to Srinagar.
Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators at Warpora, Sopore, PalhalanPattan and several other places in Baramulla district after Friday prayers. About 20 persons were injured in the clashes.
Similar clashes were also reported from Kupwara and Bandipora during which scores of people were injured.
Paramilitary forces and state police personnel had to burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse pro freedom demonstrators at about a dozen places in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian, where people defied restrictions and hit the streets after Friday prayers. Over 20 persons were injured in the clashes.
Massive protests erupted in Batmaloo area of the city where people defied curfew restrictions and hit the streets this afternoon. Security forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse stone pelting pro freedom demonstrators.
Similar protests were also held at Natipora, Rambagh and other uptown areas.
11th Friday: No prayers in historic Jamia Masjid
No Friday prayers were held for the 11th consecutive week in historic Jamia Masjid in the old cityyesterda, when curfew has been extended to many areas in Srinagar to foil protests and ‘Freedom March’ called by separatists.
Curfew has been extended to more areas today in down town and old city, besides Batmaloo and Maisuma to foil protests after Friday prayers and ‘freedom march’ called by separatists, demanding right to self determination.
Meanwhile, prayers were offered in the Valley, barring in Mosques on main roads, though devotees later joined protest marches in their areas, raising ‘pro-freedom’ slogans.
All roads leading to Jamia Masjid, where chairman of moderate HC MirwaizMoulvi Umar Farooq, who remained lodged in sub jail in Cheshmashahi since August, addresses congregation every Friday; remained closed with barbed wire.
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