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Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 16: Five protesters were killed in security forces firing on protesters at two different places in Kashmir valley taking the death toll in last 39 days of violence to 66 while strict curfew was imposed in parts of Kashmir to prevent violence.
Four protesters were alone killed at Aripanthan village of Beerwah in Budgam district after security forces opened fire on stone-throwing protesters. The security forces firing left two protesters dead on-spot while two more later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital in Srinagar. Fifteen protesters were also injured, four of them are stated to be critical.
Those killed have been identified as Javaid Najar, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Muhammad Ashraf Bhat and Javaid Sheikh alias Kaunsar all residents of Aripanthan. The four critically injured include Feroz Ahmad Bhat, Tauqeer Ahmad, Hajira and Rauf Ahmad. All of them have sustained bullet injuries.
A CRPF officer said that their convoy was targeted by the protesters in Aripanthan area in which 22 CRPF men including an officer were injured.
Soon after the killings in Aripanthan, massive protests were reported from the area. Reports said that the area was tense since yesterday after some youth were rounded up by the Army and the fresh killings sparked off more protests.
Thousands of people attended the funeral of the slain protesters, who were later buried in a local graveyard. The area is tense and protesters have closed all the major roads in the area.
In another incident, a protester was killed when security forces opened fire at Larkipora village of Anantnag district on protesters. The youth identified as Aamir Yusuf Ganaie, of Nayad Pora Larkipora was killed and 14 protesters were also injured in security forces firing and some of them were identified as Daulat Meer, Tariq Rather, Bhai Chopan, Waheed Bhat and Nazir Chopan. Five injured have received gun shot wounds.
Superintendent of Police Mubashir Bukhari told Excelsior that a group of 2000 protesters assembled outside the Army camp at Larkipora, Anantnag this morning and tried to storm it. He said that army tried its best to exercise, maximum restraint but fired after the protesters were about to storm the camp.
Bukhari said that police immediately reached the spot and shifted the injured to the hospital. He said that police prevented further violence in the area as protests swelled after the firing.
The mob also later torched house of an Army man from Larkipora, who is posted with the local Army unit.
Last evening, security forces shot dead a 10th class student Yasir Ahmad at Batamaloo areas of Srinagar during protests while another protester, Ishaq Ahmad of Tangmarg succumbed to his pellet injuries yesterday. The death toll since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has climbed to 66 while over 7000 were injured.
Militants this evening hurled a grenade at Kakapora police station in Pulwama in which three Police men were injured.
Meanwhile, the curfew and shutdown entered 39th day today while clashes and protests continued in parts of Valley. Thousands of CRPF, police and SSB personnel were deployed across Srinagar including in Old City, Maisuma, Batamaloo, Dalgate and Lal Chowk areas since early morning to thwart protests.
Security forces sealed roads with barricades and concertina wires and enforced curfew strictly. Clashes took place this evening at several places as the security forces deployed on law and order duty were withdrawn for the night. Over two dozen protesters were injured at various places.
The broadband, mobile internet and postpaid cellular services of private operators continue to remain suspended across Kashmir valley.
The vehicles on Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Baramulla-Kupwara and Srinagar-Bandipora were seen plying in the morning. But during the day it remained blocked at several places.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained disrupted for 39th day today and major roads remained shut due to blockades by protesters.
The shops, business establishments and most of the Government offices remained shut with only some shops selling essentials opened in the early morning and late evening and people were seen busy in buying essentials.
The separatists have called for march to United Nations Military Observers Office India Pakistan at Sonwar in Srinagar and appealed for 72-hour long sit-in.
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