A youth was killed in Natnusa area of Kupwara district on Friday after Army allegedly opened fire on protesters taking the toll to five in last four days. The killing sparked massive protests in the area while hundreds of people took to streets and staged a massive anti-India protest. Locals said that shortly after Friday prayers, scores of youth tried to take out a march to protest Handwara killings. Some agitated youth resorted to stone-pelting and attacked Army camp of 47 Rashtriya Rifles. “The army opened fire on the protesters spreading panic in the area. At least five protesters received bullet injuries among which a youth Muhammad Arif Dar a resident of Avora Kupwara succumbed to his injuries after he was shifted to Handwara hospital.Another witness said that protesters tried to bring down the Indian flag from the pole located outside Army camp. “Army suddenly opened fire on the protesters,” they said. The deceased youth Muhammad Arif according to locals had arrived in the village to meet his maternal uncle Muhammad Sultan Sheikh. Reports said that another youth Asif Rasool Dar of Natnusa Kupwara is also critical in the hospital. Hospital sources identified some of the injured youth as Danish Ahmed Sheikh son of Abdul Qayoom of Wadpora and Amir Sultan Sheikh of Natnusa village.
Meanwhile amid restrictions in Srinagar city and curfew in Handwara, Kashmir witnessed a spontaneous shutdown on day four against the killings of four civilians in Northern parts of Valley.Nayeem Ahmed Bhat, Jahangir Ahmed, Muhammad Iqbal and Raja Begum had died after violent clashes between government forces and people after an Army man allegedly molested a minor girl in Handwara town on April 12 this month.No separatist organization had called for a shutdown on Friday, however, people observed complete shutdown to denounce the killings while authorities restricted the movement of people in different parts of Srinagar city to thwart possible protests. Eyewitnesses said that amid huge deployment of government forces on roads and streets, number of protest marches was taken out after Friday congregational prayers across Kashmir Valley while in Chenab Valley people staged a protest in Kishtwar against these killings. The protest march was led by Imam Jamia Masjid Farooq Ahmed Kitchloo.
Eyewitnesses said that authorities imposed restrictions on the movement of people in Shaher-e-Khas area’s while in certain parts of Civil Lines particularly in city centre Lal Chowk, barbed wires were laid on roads hampering movement of people and vehicles. All the shops, business establishments and educational institutes remained shut in summer capital while traffic also remained off the roads. Reports said that the area’s which usually witness least impact of shutdown calls also observed complete shutdown. These include Raj Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Sonawar, Rambagh and other parts of the city.Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and Kashmir Tehreek Khawateen activists staged separate protests near Press Enclave Srinagar. They were demanding action against the killers responsible for the innocent deaths in Handwara. Several JKLF activists were detained by police and lodged in Police Station Kothibagh. Zamrooda Habib led a protest march, however she was arrested along with her female activists. Before her arrest Zamrooda Habib demanded stern action against those policemen who made the video of the minor girl viral. “The is against the ethics to malign the image of a lady. First, police recorded the video of minor girl inside police station and later it was made viral. What kind of justice is it. We demand stern action against the guilty policemen who for the appeasement of Army played with the dignity of a girl student,” Zamrooda Habib said.
Activists from Tehreek-e-Hurriyat tried to take out a protest march in Hyderpora, however, they were stopped by police while angry youth part of the protest march resorted to stone-pelting prompting police to burst tear-smoke shells to disperse them. Several people were injured during these clashes. Similar type of clashes were witnessed in Rawalpora area of Srinagar city while a large number of people took out a march from Nigeen based residence of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The protest march was organized by Mirwaiz led Hurriyat Conference. The protesters amid pro freedom slogans marched through lanes and bylanes and tried to enter Kashmir University, however, police swung into action and detained scores of protesters near Sir Syed Gate of the varsity. A police official confirmed that at least 16 protesters were detained after they took out a march from Nigeen to Hazratbal.People alleged that authorities did not allow them to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Locals said that they were not allowed to enter into the premises of the Masjid by government forces.
Massive stone-pelting and tear-smoke shelling was reported from Habakadal area of Srinagar city. The protesters demanded action against the government forces for killing four innocent civilians in North Kashmir. Stone-pelting incidents were also reported from different parts of Batamaloo area of the city.
Stone-pleting incidents were reported from Kangan town of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Eyewitnesses told CNS several protesters were injured during the clashes with government force.In North Kashmir curfew remained in vogue in different parts of Handwara to thwart possible protest marches. Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani had called for after Friday protest across Kashmir Valley. Reports said that strict curfew remained in place in Handwara, Langate, Magam, Kulangam and Chogal areas.In Magam area, people defied curfew and resorted to heavy stone-pelting. The clashes according to reports continued for hours.
A peaceful protest march was led by separatist leader Abdul Samad Inqalabi from Central Jamia Masjid Langate. The march culminated at the residential house of Raja Begum, one among the four persons who died of bullet injuries.In South Kashmir a complete shutdown was observed. After Friday prayers clashes broke out between protesters and government forces in different areas. Stone-pelting incidents were reported from Tral, Samboora Pampore, Kadlabal in Pulwama district. Clashes also broke out in Achabal Anantnag where protesters took out a march after Friday prayers and clashed with government forces.Meanwhile, Hurriyat G, Mirwaiz led Hurriyat and JKLF while denouncing the recent killing of class 11th student Muhammad Arif Dar have asked people to observe a complete shutdown on Saturday. Pandit organization Kashmir Sangharash Smiti president Sanjay Tickoo while condemning the killing of Kupwara youth has extended support to the strike call. (CNS)