Anti-Israel protests claim first life in Kashmir

Geelani calls for shutdown in Kulgam tomorrow

5 Dariya News (Rouf Pampori,Yawar Shafi )

Srinagar 19-Jul-2014

A teenage youth was killed when government forces allegedly opened fire on anti-Israel protesters in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday afternoon.The slain youth has been identified as 18 year old Suhail Ahmad Lone son of Ghulam Qadir Lone resident of Huwoora Mishipora in Kulgam.Eyewitnesses told GNS that soon after Zuhr prayers, hundreds of people from Khudwani and Qaimoh took out an anti-Israel and anti-India procession. “The demonstrators were shouting slogans against Israel and India. They were also shouting pro-freedom slogans,” an eyewitnesses, identified as Zahoor Ahmad, told GNS. The demonstrators were also angry over the yesterday’s firing incident in which a youth had sustained bullet injury during anti-Israel protests.“The paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed additionally in the area. When protesters reached Main Chowk Qaimoh near Government Higher Secondary School, the CRPF resorted to teargas shelling followed by firing on demonstrators,” the eyewitnesses said, adding Suhail sustained injuries in his abdomen.

The youth was immediately rushed to PHC Qaimoh and was later shifted to District Hospital Anantnag where doctors declared him brought dead, medical sources said.As the news of Suhail’s death spread in Kulgam, thousands of men, women and children took to streets and staged massive anti-India and pro-freedom protests, eyewitnesses said, adding the at several places the protesters clashed with government forces.

Violent clashes also broke out in Anantnag town against the killing of youth during which three people sustained injuries.Thousands of people later participated in the funeral of the slain youth which was held at Jamia Masjid Qaimoh and late he was taken to his native village in the procession where he was buried, a resident said.Residents told GNS that Qaimoh and Khudwani were partially shut since early morning against Friday’s firing incident. “The minor incidents of stone-pelting also took place,” they said.Meanwhile, the paramilitary CRPF has denied that its men opened fire on demonstrators. “CRPF has absolutely no role in Kulgam firing incident,” the Public Relations Officer of the force, Kishore Prasad, told GNS.A police spokesman in a statement issued to GNS termed the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and said they have registered a case in this regard and the matter is being probed. “The circumstances leading to the incident of firing are being enquired into,” he said.The Kashmir has been on the edge since last week as anti-Israel protests rocked the region.

Geelani calls for shutdown in Kulgam tomorrow

Following the killing of the teenager in government forces firing in south Kashmir's Kulgam district today afternoon, Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has called for a complete shutdown tomorrow, July 20 in Kulgam, the spokesperson of the amalgam told GNS over phone. (GNS)