Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 19: A woman, who was injured in Army firing on protesters in South Kashmir last evening, succumbed to her injuries this morning taking the death toll in the recent violence in Kashmir to 42 while a local court today ordered registration of an FIR against a police officer for allegedly killing a youth in Srinagar.
The woman identified as Neelofar Jan, wife of Fayaz Shah, resident of Churat village of Qazigund succumbed to her injuries this morning. She along with six others were injured in Churat village in Chowgam area of Qazigund in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district last evening.
Two injured identified as Showkat Ahmad Itoo son of Ghulam Hassan and Sada Begum wife of Ghulam Hassan Mir, of Churat village of Qazigund, succumbed to injuries last night only and Neelofar was shifted to Srinagar for treatment where she breathed her last this morning.
Reports reaching here said that Army had gone to the village to arrest a stone pelter and people, mostly women, resisted the arrest and took on Army, who, in return, fired at them resulting in the injuries to six persons, out of whom three died later.
Army today regretted the firing on protesters in Churat and said a probe has been initiated into the firing incident. “The Army deeply regrets, the unfortunate loss of life in the incident at Churat, Qaziund where the troops were forced to open fire yesterday, when a large mob turned violent resorting to heavy stone pelting and attempted to snatch weapons from the soldiers,” he said.
“Expressing grief over the loss of life and injuries sustained by the protesters, Army today appealed to the people to maintain peace and refrain from attacking security forces or their vehicles or establishments, thus, creating situations where the security forces are left with no option but to retaliate in self defence,” the spokesman said.
He added that the Army also pledges to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families and to the persons injured in the unfortunate incident. “An inquiry has been ordered into the incident,” he said.
In the meantime, three persons were injured in fresh violence even as curfew and shutdown in Kashmir valley entered 11th day today following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzzafar Wani on July 8. Forty two persons inducing a police man have been killed in the protests and over 3400 are injured so far.
Three persons received pellet injures in Anantnag town as police fired on protesters this evening. Two of the injured have been referred to Srinagar for treatment.
The curfew in South Kashmir, which has been epicenter of last 11days of violence, remained strictly enforced. There were incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Bijbehara and Pulwama.
The parts of Srinagar were under strict curfew today. However, the movement of people in some areas of Civil Lines was allowed. Police and para-military forces were patrolling the streets and they had blocked the roads, lanes and by-lanes with concertina wires.
There were minor incidents of stone pelting on the security forces at few places. However, situation in Srinagar remained largely peaceful.
North Kashmir mostly remained peaceful today with army patrolling several sensitive areas and they have established bunkers along the major roads and national highway to prevent any escalation of violence.
A police spokesman said here: “The situation remained under control throughout the Kashmir valley, though incidents of stray and intermittent stone pelting were reported. These incidents were reported from Tahab in Pulwama, Sangam Chowk in Bijbehara, Fatehpora and Ahan in Ganderbal and Bagyas and Reck Chowk in Srinagar”.
The newspapers for the fourth consecutive day failed to hit stands in Kashmir as government stopped their publications as a precautionary measure to prevent escalation of violence. However, government today asked the owners of the newspapers to resume publications but the Editors of the newspapers in a meeting decided that they will not publish the newspapers till government issues written order.
Government, however, this evening made it clear that there are no restrictions on printing and publishing of newspapers. “In a notification issued here today, the District Magistrate Srinagar has clarified that there is no restriction on printing and publishing of newspapers in district Srinagar. In a separate notification issued by District Magistrate Budgam, it has been stated that there is no restriction of any kind on printing, publishing and distribution of newspapers in the district”, the official statement said.
The mobile phone services and internet also remained shut while only BSNL postpaid and broadband internet and landlines remained unaffected. The authorities have already made it clear that the cellular services would be restored only after there are signs of improvement in situation.
The shops, business establishments, government offices, banks remained closed and traffic was off the roads due to strike and curfew across Kashmir. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla were also suspended for 11th consecutive day today.
In the meantime, a local court directed the police to register a case against its officer accused of acting “beyond the powers” in connection with the killing of a youth in Tengpora area of Srinagar on July 10.
“The applicant is on affidavit and as per the facts of the application, the concerned DySP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) has acted beyond the powers which revealed that there is a case of cognisable offences,” Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Masarat Shaheen said in an order.
The CJM while issuing the orders for registering an FIR against the officer also directed the SSP Srinagar to get the case investigated by an officer not below the rank of a DySP. “In the light of the application and affidavit sworn by the applicant, the SSP Srinagar is directed to lodge FIR against the concerned official and investigate the matter. However, the SSP is further directed to get the case investigated by some senior officer not below the rank of DySP,” the court said.
Shabir Ahmad Mir was killed in police firing at Tengpora area of Srinagar on July 10. According to police, he was killed during protests but the family of the deceased alleged that he was shot dead by the officer in cold blood inside his house.
“The applicant has submitted that on July 10 at 6:45 pm when they were
watching television, a police party headed by DySP Yasir Qadri barged into their house and started smashing windowpanes and doors of the house. The wife of the applicant tried to stop the said police officer. However, he physically assaulted her.
“The son could not tolerate the thrashing of his mother and tried to rescue her from the clutches of the police officer. The police officer took out his pistol and fired two shots at him resulting in his on spot death,” the court said while quoting the application.
“The applicant has further submitted that the said DySP took law in his own hands and killed his son in cold blood without any reason and rhyme. The applicant has submitted that he filed an application with the SHO Batamaloo, who refused to lodge an FIR against the said DySP,” it added.
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