Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 20: At least 40 people including 22 policemen were injured in clashes that broke out today in South Kashmir’s Kulgam area over the killing of a youth in security forces’ firing on protesters yesterday.
DIG, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that one Gouhar Ahmad Wani son of Nissar Wani resident of Dhanrun Dialgam was critically injured when a Para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party fired upon stone throwing protesters this evening at Dhanrun Dialgam in district Anantnag.
Kumar said that the CRPF party was returning from law and order duty at Qaimoh in Kulgam this evening and was on its way to Kokernag when it came under heavy stone pelting at Dhanrun Dialgam. He said that the driver of one of the vehicles was hit by a stone and he lost balance and the vehicles fell into a ditch. The youth pelted stones on the CRPF and they fired resulting in the injury to Wani.
The DIG said that Wani was hit in the upper part of the chest and his vital are safe. He was shifted to Srinagar’s SKIMS hospital for treatment and his condition is stated to be critical.
Kumar said that a police party was rushed to Dharun to rescue the CRPF men.
Earlier, Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in strength to quell the protests that started early in the morning with stone throwing youth attacking Police Station Qaimoh.
Apprehending trouble, the main roads in Kulgam were sealed by the police and CRPF and no movement was allowed. Kulgam district observed shut down against the killing of Suhail Ahmad Lone in security forces firing yesterday. The shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads.
The DIG told Excelsior that stone pelting on Police and CRPF that started in the morning continued till evening. “Thirteen CRPF, 9 police men and 6 civilians were injured in the stone pelting”, said Kumar.
Some of the injured persons have been identified as Zahid Bhat son of Manzoor Ahmad of Wanpoh, Yasir Rah son of Reyaz Ahmad of Khudwani, Shahid Ahmad son of Ghulam Mohammad of Khudwani, Mohammad Amin Dar son of Abdul Aziz of Redwani, Mohammad Arif son of Mohammad Yaqoob of Redwani, Mohammad Aqib son of Bashir of Rampora, Farooq Ahmad son of Ghulam Ahmed of Rampora, Dawood Ahmad son of Mohammad Ibrahim of Turki Tashlu and Adil Ganie son of Muzaffar Ahmad Ganie of Ghat Redwani.
Reports said that fresh clashes between protesters and Police and CRPF started early in the morning after stone throwing youth attacked Qaimoh Police Station, Kulgam. The protesters were protesting against the killing Suhail Ahmad Lone who was killed last evening.
The protesters pelted stones on police and CRPF who responded with baton charging and tear gas shelling in which around 15 youth were injured. One youth was hit by a tear gas shell on his head. Over 21 police and CRPF personnel were also injured in the stone clashes. The injured have been shifted to district and sub-district hospitals.
Clashes also broke out at Ashjipora, Sherpra, Mir Bazar in Anantnag town against killing of Suhail Ahmad. Large contingents of Police and CRPF were deployed in Anantnag and Kulgam to restore order. However, there were no reports of any injuring from Anantnag town.
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