SRINAGAR Thousands of people on Thursday attended the funeral prayers of a 20-year-old youth, killed in army firing, at Trehgam in Kupwara district on Wednesday.
While the youth, Khalid Gafar son of Abdul Gafar Malik, was killed on the spot, another youth suffered grave injuries after army opened fire upon a group of protesters at Trehgam village last evening.
Reports said that thousands of people, shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, participated in the funeral prayers of Khalid.
Soon after his burial, people mostly youth took to streets and pelted stones on a joint team of police and paramilitary CRPF deployed in the area, they said.
The forces used tear smoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesters resulting in injuries to three youths so far in the ongoing protests, they said.
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The local residents of the area alleged that the forces damaged windowpanes of several residential houses in Trehgam.
Meanwhile, the protests in Trehgam and its adjoining areas were going on when this report was filed.
Besides curbs in Trehgam, authorities had imposed strict restrictions in Kupwara town and its adjoining areas.
An official of the district administration confirmed the imposition of restrictions in parts of Kupwara. He said the curbs were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, a complete spontaneous shutdown was observed in Kupwara district. Reports said that all the shops and business establishments were closed while the public transport was off the roads.
The internet services were also snapped since Wednesday night in parts of north Kashmir including Kupwara, Handwara and Sopore.
The district administration had ordered closure of all educational institutions including schools and colleges in Kupwara district for Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jehangir had said that all schools and colleges across Kupwara district shall remain closed except in Machil, Tanghdar and Keran areas for Thursday.
The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid law and order situation in the Valley, he had said.
And Customary Magisterial Inquiry
SHRC Seeks Report From DC, SSP Kupwara
Government also ordered a customary magisterial inquiry into the killing of the youth 20-year-old youth in army firing Wednesday evening at Trehgam Kupwara by army.
District Magistrate Kupwara, Khalid Jehangir said that an enquiry into the killing of the youth namely Khalid Gafar, 20, son of Abdul Gafar Malik, in firing the by army has been ordered.
Additional District Commissioner (ADM), Handwara has been appointed to conduct the enquiry into the killing, Jehangir said.
He said the ADM has been asked to submit a detailed enquiry report within one month.
The District Magistrate said that an FIR has already been registered against the army party involved in the killing.
Meanwhile, official sources said that an FIR 46/ 2018 under section 148, 149, 323, 307, 336 RPC has been registered in police station Trehgam with regard to the incident.
They said that convoy of 8 Bihar and 160 TA two different army units were passing through Trehgam area on Wednesday evening when the stone pelting and subsequently firing incident occurred. “The soldiers of nearby unit were already deployed and were patrolling the streets for the protection of the convoy, they said.
A police officer had said that investigations will reveal as to how and under what circumstances the incident took place. Meanwhile, State Human Rights Commission has sought reports from Deputy Commissioner and SSP Kupwara on a petition seeking directions to find “real facts” into the killing of the youth.
Hearing the petition filed by Chairman, International Forum for Justice Human Rights JK Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, the State Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice (Rtd) Bilal Nazki issued a notice to SSP Kupwara and Deputy Commissioner Kupwara and asked them to submit the detailed compliance report before the commission by or before August 20. (with inputs from CNS, GNS)
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