SRINAGAR: A student was killed and 14 other civilians were injured after government forces opened fire on protesters during a cordon-and-search operation in South Kashmir district of Shopian Tuesday evening.
Reports reaching here said that the army and paramilitary forces launched the cordon- and-search operation in Ganowpora village to nab the militants present there. The operation, police said was launched following information about presence of militants there.
However, the local residents came out of their homes and pelted stones at the forces, disrupting the operation. Security forces fired tear smoke shells to prevent the surging crowds from moving closer, the official sources said.
However, undeterred villagers stepped up the stone-pelting and the security forces had to open fire to disperse them, an official spokesman said.
One protester was killed and 14 other civilians were injured, in the incident, reports said.
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Sources said the protester killed has been identified as Adil Farooq Magrey, a student hailing from Ganowpora village. He was reportedly hit by a bullet in the abdomen and was brought dead to a local hospital.
The injured were being treated at Shopian District Hospital and one report said two of them have been referred to Srinagar.
Reinforcements have been rushed to the area as the clashes intensified following the death.
The fresh killing has comes at a time when a fragile peace is holding on in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat last month.
Sabzars death had sparked widespread protests that forced authorities to clamp Curfew for three days.
Internet Service Suspended
Meanwhile authorities snapped 3G and 4G internet service across Kashmir Valley immediately after the Shopian incident.
The decision was taken to stop public reaction to the killing and bar people from reacting on the social media, sources said.
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