One more youth fell to the bullets of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Sopore on Sunday evening, while another was injured on the third day of the curfew.
Witnesses told The Hindu that 21-year-old Bilal Ahmad Wani lost his life after CRPF personnel opened indiscriminate firing upon a group of youth who defied the curfew and were throwing stones.
Police sources revealed that the youth irked the CRPF, which opened fire.
Number may go up
Bilal succumbed to injuries on way to the hospital. Another injured youth was admitted in hospital. However, according to reports, the number of injured may go up.
Fifth killing in 2 weeks
As the news of Bilal's death spread like wildfire, thousands of people took to the streets protesting. They headed towards the police station, shouting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans.
The crowd, reports said, was swelling up and the police was using teargas shells to control the mob.
“But the situation is really out of control,” an officer said on the phone. This is the fifth killing by the CRPF in last two weeks.
Despite Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's assurances on Saturday that no violations would be tolerated, Sunday's firing puts a shadow on the functioning of the government.
Mr. Abdullah had also ordered a high-level judicial inquiry into the death of two youths in Sopore on Friday. The inquiry will be conducted by the chairman of State Human Rights Commission, Justice Bashiruddin.
Institutions closed
The government has closed educational institutions for two days beginning Monday in view of the Hurriyat Conference's call to students to take out protests.
