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| 14 dead in Kashmir, Kishtwar | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 12
Large scale violence today erupted in Kashmir Valley where another 12 people were killed in firing by the security forces after they found the situations going out of hands. Worst tension of past 13 years is reported to have erupted in the Valley where violent mobs are taking to streets in protests against the Police firing on people who were staging a march towards the Line of Control on Monday. Curfew has been clamped across Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile, on this side of tunnel, Army has been called out and curfew clamped in Kishtwar district headquarters. Two people have reported killed and a score injured in a clash which erupted between members of two communities. Public and private property worth crores of rupees was also gutted in the clash following which curfew has been clamped.
Reports from Srinagar said that amid pro-freedom slogans, the body of senior Hurriyat Conference leader Shiekh Abdul Aziz, who was killed in police firing on Monday (August 11), was laid to rest at Eidgah graveyard on Tuesday.
Defying curfew in force in Srinagar city since yesterday, thousands of people led by separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq attended the burial amid calls for maintaining peace.
The death toll in firing by security forces rose to 18 today. Six persons including Aziz were killed in yesterday's firing during a march towards Muzaffarabad by thousands of protestors against the "economic blockade" in the Jammu region by the group spearheading the Amarnath agitation.
In curfew-bound Kishtwar in the Jammu area, army was called out after two persons were killed and over 20 others injured in clashes, police firing and a grenade blast, officials said. Police earlier lobbed teargas shells to disperse groups belonging to two communities which pelted stones at each other at Kishtwar's Hidyal Chowk.
Security forces opened fire in several areas in the valley killing three persons each in Aribal in Bandipora district, Lasjan in outskirts of Srinagar, two in Bagh-e-Mehtab area and protestor each in Rainawari and Zoonimar, all in Srinagar area, and one each in Ganderbal and Anantnag district, official sources said. One of the victims was a local journalist identified as Javed Ahmed Mir who died in police firing in Bagh-e-Mehtab area.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration extended the curfew to all the 10 districts in the Kashmir valley as tension prevailed following the death of Aziz and angry protests continued for the second day today after curfew was defied at several places. On Monday, curfew was clamped only in Srinagar district and along a 40-km stretch from Sheeri to Uri town in Baramulla district.
Giving details of today's incidents in the valley, official sources said army opened fire at Aribal in Bandipora killing three persons and injuring eight others.
Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Mathur said the army fired in self-defence as the protestors tried to storm their camp. "The protestors had run over the police party there and broke open the gate of the camp, forcing the jawans to open fire in self-defence," he said.
The Lasjan incident occurred after the service weapon of a personal security guard of PDP leader Javid Mustafa Mir went off 'accidentally' injuring seven police personnel including IPS officer Mahesh Kumar, official sources said.
Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Saddar area), was hit by a bullet in the leg and has been admitted in hospital along with the other injured policemen. Three persons including a 70-year-old woman were killed in the police firing after the incident involving Mir's security guard.
Two persons succumbed to injuries sustained in yesterday's police firing which had already claimed the lives of four persons including Aziz.
A youth was killed and 20 others injured when police opened fire on protestors in Lal Chowk area of Anantnag district, the sources said, adding the deceased has been identified as Mohammad Saleem Shah.
Two persons including a cameraman of a local cable TV channel were killed when CRPF troops opened fire on protestors in Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Srinagar. The victims were identified as Mohammad Imran and cameraman Javed Ahmad Mir.
In Kishtwar authorities today called out the Army after nearly 15 persons were injured in clashes at curfew-bound Kishtwar area of the Jammu region.
Protestors led by Hurriyat leaders defied curfew restrictions and staged rallies after yesterday's violent protests and police firing in Srinagar.
Police fired teargas shells today when the agitators pelted stones at security personnel in Kishtwar, Deputy Inspector General Himant Lohia said. About 15 persons were injured in the clashes.
The Army was called to assist police in the restoring normalcy after incidents of arson at some places, he said. Curfew was imposed in the morning as a precautionary measure as authorities apprehended some trouble, official sources said. Many shops in the area remained closed.
In Jammu district, curfew was relaxed for 12 hours in from 0500 hrs while a five-hour relaxation was given in Samba and Udhampur.
Normal life continued to remain paralysed in Jammu and adjoining areas. Shops and markets were closed and vehicular traffic was off the roads.
Reports from Reasi district said that protesters pelted stones on four government offices and damaged some furnitures there. The protesters also pelted stones at vehicles but were dispersed by police.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) leader Balwan Singh yesterday launched a fast-unto-death demonstration in the town.
BJP leaders Subash Vaid and Pawan Kumar, who were a similar protest for the past three days, have been admitted to a hospital after their medical condition deteriorated. |
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