August 13 2010

Bloodbath in North Kashmir, Old-man among 4 dead

Protests, clashes across valley, 80 injured

Srinagar: CRPF troops and police on Friday shot dead four people and injured at least 12 others in twin districts of Baramulla and Kupwara. The fresh killings sparked off pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations across the Valley leaving at least eighty people injured. With the killing the death toll in since June 11 has gone to 56.

Teenager shot dead

17-year-old Mudasir Ahmed, son of Ghulam Hassan Zargar was killed and at least seven people including a woman was injured when CPRF troops opened indiscriminate fire upon worshippers who were returning home after offering Fajr (dawn) prayers in Meerpora of Trehgam in the frontier Kupwara district this morning.

Reports and eyewitnesses said that the trouble started when the CPF men misbehaved with the worshippers on the pretext that curfew was in place in the area. The objection by the worshippers, eyewitnesses said infuriated the troops who opened random fire on the people killing Mudasir and injuring seven others, including a 50-year-old woman Janti Begum, wife of Mohammad Sadiq.

Mudasir was rushed to the district hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

“My nephew had returned from morning prayers, when CRPF men killed him in the compound of his house. They did not even allow us to remove the body for nearly 30 minutes,” Mudasir’s uncle, Abdul Hameed told reporters

“The officials have told us that only four people can join the funeral of the youth. Shame on the government. They don’t even allow us to offer final rites of the Martyr,” he added.

He said that the teenager was earning bread and butter for the family by working as a laborer at a bakery shop in Sopore town. Mudasir’s father, Hameed said had cross to other side of the Line of Control in 1989 and never returned.

“Mudasir was an obedient son. He was taking care of his mother and brother. Allah knows what will happen to his family now,” he added.

As the word about Mudasir’s killing spread, hundreds of men, women and children came out on roads and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting slogans, the protesters pelted rocks and stones on the forces. CRPF troops and police burst tear smoke shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse the protesters. At least 25 people suffered injuries in the fierce clashes that continued till late evening. Police also arrested nearly two dozen youth during the demonstrations. Some of them have been identified as Maqsood Ahmad Malik, Mudasir Ahmad Malik, Irshad Ahmad Malik, Bilal Ahmad Shiekh, Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat, Mumtaz Malik, Bilal Ahmad Najar, Bashir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Afzal Malik, Irshad Ahmad Mir, Tariq Ahmad Malik and Abdur Rashid Dar, Imam of Chakpora Masjid.

70-year-old shot dead in Pattan

Hours after the killing of the Trehgam student, CRPF men and police opened fire upon hundreds of people who were staging peaceful pro-freedom demonstration in Pattan area of Baramulla district this morning. Six people, one among them were critically injured in the forces firing. The seriously injured persons were rushed to SK Institute of medical sciences. However, one of the injured identified as 70-year-old Ali Mohammad Khanday, 70, succumbed to injuries around 1400 hours.

The killings in North Kashmir triggered pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations across the Valley.

Thousands of people after offering congregational Friday prayers took to streets in all the districts of the Valley and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. CRPF and police opened fire upon the protesters and lobbed numerous tear smoke shells in all the districts of the Valley to contain the protests.

2 killed in Bomai

Mohammad Asif, son of Mohammad Maqsood Mir and Sameer Ahmad, son of Mohammad Maqbool Lone of Lagraypora were killed and at least twelve people, six among them suffered bullet injuries when CRPF troops and police fired upon peaceful protesters in Bomai village of Sopore this afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said that after congregational Friday prayers, hundreds of people took out a peaceful procession from Lagraypora locality of Bomai village this afternoon. Chanting “We want freedom,” “Islam Zindabad,” “Salam-O-Martyrs,” and anti-India slogans, the protesters were intercepted by a contingent of CRPF men belonging to 192 Battalion. As the protesters tried to break the cordon and continue their march to the apple town, troops opened random fire upon the procession killing Asif and Sameer and injuring at least twelve others.

Some of the injured have been identified as Javed Ahmad, Nazir Ahmad Shah, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, Shahid Ganai and Rafiq Ahmad Ganai.

The killing of four innocent civilians fuelled anti-India demonstrations that broke out after Friday prayers in various towns and districts of the Valley.

In Srinagar, hundreds of people mainly youth took to streets in Batmaloo, Chanpora, Hyderpora, and almost all the areas of the old city including Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Saraf Kadal, Gojwara, Kawdara and Safa Kadal and fought pitched battles with the troops and police that were deployed in huge numbers. Forces opened fire upon the demonstrators after failing to chase away them with tear gas canisters.

At least twenty people were injured in the clashes that continued till late evening. Two youth identified as Ubaid, son of Abdur Rashid and Mohammad Younis, son of Mohammad Yusuf were critically injured in forces firing in Nowhatta. Both the injured were rushed to SKIMS. However, the doctors have described their condition ‘life threatening’.

In Nagam, Chadura of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district five people were injured when forces fired teargas canisters to break up a pro-freedom demonstration in the area.

South erupts

At least twenty five people were injured when CRPF troops and police lobbed tear smoke shells and fired warning shots to disperse thousands of pro-freedom demonstrators in Kulgam, Islamabad, Pulwama and Shopian districts of South Kashmir.

Press Bureau of India correspondent from South Kashmir said that thousands of people, particularly youth after Friday prayers assembled at K P road in Islamabad district. Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the people were protesting the killing of unarmed civilians in North Kashmir. The protesters peacefully dispersed near Khanabal Bridge.

In Anchidora, Lal Chowk, Kadipora, Khanabal, Malkah nag, Mattan Chowk, Dangerpora and other areas violent clashes broke out between forces and the protesters this afternoon. Forces fired several shots in air after they failed to quell the demonstrators with tear smoke shells. At least twelve people were injured in the ding-dong clashes.

Troops and police also used force to break up demonstrations in Samboora and other areas of the Pulwama district. Three people were injured in the clashes.

The locals also charged the troops of setting ablaze a motorcycle during pro-freedom demonstrations.

In Shopian district, hundreds of people took to streets this afternoon and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations. Chanting “We want Freedom,” “Go India Go Back,” “Salam-O-Martyrs,” the protesters marched through Bon Bazar, Jamia Masjid, Main Chowk before reaching Deputy Commissioners, office.

Angry protesters, hurled rocks and stones on the DC office. CRPF troops and police resorted to cane charge and fired numerous tear smoke shells to disperse the stone pelting youth. At least ten people, reports said, were injured in the ding-dong clashes that continued till late evening.

Police version

In a handout issued here this evening, police said that four people were killed when angry mobs attacked CRPF camps, police station and other public property across the Valley today. In Bomia, the spokesman said mob attacked the camp of 92 Bn CRPF camp while in Pattan and Trehgam, forces came under attack. In Nowhatta, the spokesman said police station came under heavy stone pelting by mob.

“Police and security forces exhibited restraint and used tear smoke and lathi charge to disperse stone pelting youth. Forces had to fire when mobs did not pay any heed to repeated calls for dispersal. Thirty CRPF troopers and policemen and ten civilians were injured,” the spokesman said.

“Peaceful protests were also held at a number of places. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took out a peaceful procession in the downtown Srinagar which dispersed peacefully. Curfew and restrictions in most of the districts of the valley were lifted to facilitate the prayers for the first Friday of Ramadan,” he added.