The Hindu : National : Youth killed as CRPF opens fire in Baramulla

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 01, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Youth killed as CRPF opens fire in Baramulla

Shujaat Bukhari

Magisterial probe into killing of two youths
Hurriyat strike hits normal life in the valley

SRINAGAR: A youth was killed and a 11-year-old was critically injured on Tuesday as violent protests against the death of two persons in police firing on Monday in Baramulla continued.

CRPF personnel opened fire on stone-pelting agitators defying curfew in Khanpora locality, killing Fayaz Ahmad Wagay.

In a separate incident several people were injured, one of them critically, when police opened fire on protesters in the town. Reports said hundreds of people marched towards the main town raising anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.

They threw stones at the police leading to violent clashes. As lathi charge and teargas failed to quell the protesters, police opened fire.

A boy Bilal Bashir (11) was hit in the head and is battling for his life in a Srinagar hospital. A rumour that he had died worsened the situation.

“The situation in Baramulla is tense,” a police officer said.

Curfew was imposed on Monday after two youths were killed in firing on protesters demanding action against policemen who had allegedly misbehaved with a woman.

In neighbouring Sopore also people defied curfew and took out processions. The Maisuma area in Srinagar also witnessed demonstrations and violent clashes.

Deputy Commissioner (Baramulla) Latief-uz-Zaman Deva has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of the two youths. The report will be submitted in 10 days.

Meanwhile, the three-day strike called by the Hurriyat Conference (Geelani) to protest the killing of the youths in Baramulla and the use of force in Shopian began on Tuesday. Normal life across the Kashmir valley was disrupted. Markets, educational institutions, banks, courts and other semi-government institutions remained closed and transport was off the road.

The moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the use of force in Baramulla and Shopian.

PDP’s charge

People’s Democratic Party leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig has condemned the “indiscriminate” use of force by the police and security forces.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National