A 25-year-old civilian was killed when CRPF personnel opened fire on protesters on Wednesday evening.
Locals said Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat was killed during a demonstration at the Bemina Chowk. No police officer was available for comment but hospital sources confirmed that he died of a bullet injury.
Another youth of Kralkhud was critically injured when a bullet hit him in the lower abdomen at Habbakadal during a protest. Meanwhile, Iqbal Ahmad, a youth who was injured on Friday morning when the police and the CRPF opened fire on a group of protesters in Chanpora area died at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura.
So far 40 civilians have been killed in the violence in the Valley since June 11.
Tight security
Authorities enforced curfew on Wednesday as more troops were requisitioned from the Centre and deployed in sensitive areas. Srinagar and other major towns were put under a thick security blanket to thwart the attempts of protesters to take to the streets.
However, at some places people managed to come out and stage protests. In Qamarwari, Khrew, Pampore, Kulgam and Wanbal, hundreds of people raised slogans protesting against the recent killings. In Shopian, south Kashmir, demonstrators burnt government vehicles and set on fire some buildings. At various places, security personnel fired in the air to warn the protesters.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was allowed to visit the Chanpora locality, where he led funeral prayers for Iqbal Ahmad and addressed people.
Reports from Baramulla said a youth was critically injured after CRPF personnel shot him in north Kashmir's Sopore town, while the office of the Superintendent Engineer, PHE, and a building of the Irrigation Department were set on fire by a mob.
A police spokesman said the “situation in the Valley remained by and large peaceful.” He, however, said protesters set ablaze government vehicles in the Qamarwari area of the old city in Srinagar and in Pampore town of Pulwama district. In Shopian, protesters set ablaze two buildings of the Forest Protection Force and a vehicle.
Reports said the police and the CRPF resorted to tear smoke shelling to disperse protesters in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district. They were trying to march towards Ganderbal, constituency of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Sources said protesters attacked the Budgam SSP's escort at Beerwah. The police dispersed them by firing in the air and teargas shelling. No one was injured.
