Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 22: A teenager was killed as he was hit by a teargas shell fired by security forces in Awantipora area of Pulwama district while another succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital today, taking the death toll in violence after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani to 45. Government today shifted DIG South Kashmir and SSP Anantnag for mishandling situation arisen after the killing of Burhan Wani.
DIG Central Kashmir, Ghulam Hassan Bhat has been given the charge as DIG Anantnag while Viplov Kumar, Incharge IG Traffic has been given the charge of DIG Central Kashmir. DIG South Kashmir, Nitish Kumar has gone for official training.
SSP Traffic Rural Zubair Ahmad is the new SSP Anantnag and SSP Anantnag Abdul Jabbar has been posted as SSP Traffic Rural. The two officers have been asked to join thier new places of posting immediately.
South Kashmir particularly Anatnag district is the epicentre of the present violence. Security forces have been accused of using excessive force to deal with the protests that led to killing of 45 people and injuries to over 3600 people across Kashmir.
A youth, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, 18, son of Bashir Ahmad Bhat resident of Chursoo Awantipora was critically injured after he was hit by a teargas shell fired security forces during protests at Chursoo in Awantipora area of Pulwama district. The injured was rushed SMHS Hospital in Srinagar but he was declared as brought dead.
Massive protests broke out in Chursoo after the news of youth’s death spread.
A police spokesman said that at Chursoo, Pulwama one Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat son of Bashir Ahmad resident of Chursoo was hit by a teargas shell and got seriously injured. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Earlier in the day, another youth injured 10 days ago succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura. He was identified as Ishtiaq Ahmad Mir of Kokernag.
A youth identified as Asif was critically injured at Kakpora in Pulwama in security forces firing. He was admitted to SKIMS hospital in Soura Srinagar.
The death toll since the outbreak of protests against Burhan’s killing has now reached 45 in Kashmir Valley while over 3600 are injured while curfew and shutdown continued for 14th consecutive day today.
Meanwhile, strict curfew was imposed across Kashmir Valley today to thwart possible protests in view of Friday. Due to curfew, no Friday prayers were offered at Jamia Masjid Srinagar for the second consecutive Friday. People from parts of Srinagar and other major towns were not able to offer Friday prayers due to strict curfew.
People defied curfew at several places across Kashmir in which scores of protesters and security men were injured.
The protests broke out at Sekkidafar, Nawab Bazar and other areas of the downtown and uptown Srinagar. Clashes also erupted at several places in Old City this evening.
In South Kashmir, 15 persons were injured at Awantipora and Kakapora during clashes as police used teargas shells, pellets and pepper gas to foil voilent protests. Protests also broke out at Tahab, Prechu, Imam Sahib and other places during which police fired tearsmoke shells to disperse the protesters.
At Chankan in Sopore in North Kashmir, 11 persons sustained injuries in clashes and two of them were referred to Srinagar for treatment. A large mob also gathered outside Police Training School in Sheeri Baramulla and pelted stones at it. Police and security forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
A massive protest march was taken out from Old town Baramulla and passed through the town and later youth clashed with police.
Protests and stone pelting was reported from a dozen of places in Kupwara and Bandipora districts during which at least 10 people were injured.
In Handwara area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district the curfew was relaxed after 5 pm during which some shops opened and people were seen busy in purchasing essentials.
In Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, five persons received injuries in clashes. Police fired tearsmoke shells to quell the protests that broke out in the afternoon.
A police spokesman said here: “Today incidents of stone pelting were reported from various parts of the valley mainly after Friday prayers with miscreants taking to the streets and pelting stones on police and security forces deployed to maintain peace and order. Such incidents were reported from Sopore, Ruhama, Panzla and Tarzoo in district Baramulla, Khumriyal, Natnusa and Kralgund in district Kupwara, Prechoo, Tahab, Kakpora and Chursoo in district Pulwama, Imam Sahib in district Shopian, Manigam and Ganderbal town in district Ganderbal. Despite grave provocations at various places across the valley particularly after the Friday prayers, deployments exercised restraint.”
Police requested the parents not to allow their wards to become part of the mobs of miscreants.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained suspended for 13th consecutive day today. All the roads and National Highway remained shut during the day. However, during the night the National Highway remains open for traffic under tight security.
The mobile phone services and internet also remained shut while only BSNL postpaid and broadband internet and landlines have remained unaffected. These services are mostly used for communication by police, security forces and Government officials. The authorities have already made it clear that the cellular services would be restored only after there are signs of improvement in situation.
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