A youth was killed after being hit by a teargas shell fired by forces in Drugmulla area of north Kashmir on Wednesday, taking the death toll to four in less than 24 hours.Witnesses said that Jahangir Ahmad Wani, son of Ghulam Din Wani, resident of Drugmulla died after being hit by a shell in the head.The people were protesting against the killing of women Raja Begum.Protestors pelted stones on the forces as a mark of resentment against the killing. “Forces shot various teargas shells to disperse the protestors. One of the teargas shell hit Jahangir Ahmad on his head, resulting in his death,” said locals.Clashes have been going on in Kupwara district of north Kashmir since yesterday afternoon over the alleged molestation bid and killing of two youths and a woman in army firing yesterday.Eye witnesses said that after the killing of Jahangir, the protestors intensified the protests and also tried to torch the police post. “The police post was set fire, however, the fire was immediately brought under control.
The police post was partially damaged in the fire,” said eye witnesses. They added that eleven protestors were injured in the clashes while nineteen policemen also received injuries. They all were treated in the local hospital.Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir valley on Wednesday to protest the killing of three civilians including an elderly woman in firing by government forces in Handwara town of frontier district Kupwara district on Tuesday. The strike call was issued by JKLF Chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq besides heads of other separatist groups.Three civilians Nayeem Qadir Bhat (19), Muhammad Iqbal (23) and Raja Begum (58) were killed in government forces firing when protesters were demanding the arrest of army personnel responsible for the alleged molestation of a teen age girl. Almost all the separatist leaders were placed under house arrest while restrictions and curfew was imposed in restive Shehar-e-Khas and Handwara town.
All shops and business establishments remained closed in Srinagar and other district headquarters of the valley while public transport remained off the roads.Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in several areas of Srinagar besides several other parts of the valley to stem protests against the civilian killings.Shortly after the death of third civilian spread in Handwara town, administration imposed curfew to thwart possible protests. Police sealed all the roads and a large contingent of police and para-military troopers were deployed to maintain law and order. Reports said that due to delicate situation in the town, the body of one of the slain youth Nayeem Qadr Bhat has been lying in the police station. “We were unable to handover the body of the youth to family, as situation was tense and turbulent,” a police official told CNS on condition of anonymity. The body of the Nayeem was handed over to family on Wednesday and his funeral prayers were offered at Boys Higher Secondary School Handwara.
Thousands of people including legislator Engineer Rasheed participated in the last rites of the slain youth.Reports said that angry protesters clashed with police at several places across Kashmir. Agitated protesters resorted to stone-pelting shortly after the news about death of woman spread in the area. Police exercised maximum restrain and did not retaliate. The slain woman was buried in the native graveyard in Langate. Stone-pelting incidents amid curfew were reported from different parts of Handwara town including Bandaymohalla, Langate, Rajwar, Magam and Kulangam. Government Forces resorted to heavy tear-gas shelling on protesters near B.Ed College Dragmulla. Reports said that protesters pelted stones on police resulting in the injuries of many cops. Angry protesters clashed with government forces throughout the day. (CNS)