Calm that reigned in Kashmir for three days was broken on Friday, when four civilians were killed in firing by the police and the Central Reserve Police Force at three places , forcing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to cancel a meeting of the Unified Headquarters.
With this incident, the death toll in clashes since June 11 has risen to 56.
As the authorities lifted curfew in Srinagar and allowed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, to deliver his Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid after six weeks, thousands of people followed him to protest the fresh round of killings.
Mudasir, 16, was killed in firing at Trehgam in the border district of Kupwara in the early hours. Witnesses said that people, returning from dawn prayers, were stopped by CRPF personnel, who asked them why they had violated the undeclared curfew restrictions. This led to an altercation, and the personnel opened fire, killing Mudasir, and injuring a 60-year-old woman and a youth. In protest, the people staged a demonstration. Reinforcements were summoned.
District Magistrate Mohammad Shafi Rather said curfew was imposed in the area and the CRPF deployed. “They [the CRPF] confronted a group of people and opened fire, perhaps, in self-defence. We are investigating the matter,” he told The Hindu. However, the people claimed that no announcement of curfew was made. Hours later, police and CRPF personnel opened fire to break up a demonstration at Pattan on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, injuring Ali Mohammad, 55. He was rushed to hospital where he died. The police said the protesters defied curfew and blocked the highway.
At Bomai near Sopore, the CRPF opened fire to disperse another demonstration against the recent killings. Two boys, Arif Mir and Sameer Lone, died of bullet wounds, and three sustained injuries.
Thousands of people took to the streets. They also tried to attack the local camp of the security forces. Reports said that in Baramulla, two protesters jumped into the Jhelum when they were chased by security forces. However, they swam to safety.
Mr. Abdullah cancelled a routine meeting of the Unified Headquarters.
Sources said Mr. Abdullah cancelled the meeting in protest against the continued killing. However, an official spokesman said Mr. Abdullah postponed the meeting because of senior police and paramilitary officers were busy with law and order duties.
