As the Army killed three infiltrators on the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday in north Kashmir, over 10 youth were injured in violent clashes triggered by the killing of a student during a search operation in Shopian on Tuesday evening.
The slain militants were part of a group of infiltrators. “The troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) noticed the militants trying to infiltrate into the Valley from across the border in Machil sector under the cover of darkness on Tuesday night,” said the spokesman.
The troops, according to the spokesman, engaged the heavily-armed militants in a combat. “Three militants are believed to have been killed in the gunfight. Three weapons were recovered. The operation is continuing in the area.”
Violent protests
In Shopian, hundreds of locals participated in the last rites of 19-year-old college student Adil Farooq Magray. People raised provocative slogans like ‘There is only one solution, it’s gun solution’ as the body was lowered into the grave around 11 a.m.
Magray was a resident of Ganawpora. He died after being hit by bullets as locals clashed with a search team looking for trapped militants. His death sparked a string of violent protests in parts of Kashmir Valley.
A police spokesman said students of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, and Higher Secondary School, Pampore, resorted to stone pelting on the security forces.
Security forces used smoke shells and pellet shotguns to clear the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. At least 10 students, including women protesters, suffered injuries. Several police personnel too were injured.
The IUST authorities have decided to suspend classes on Thursday and Friday.
‘Situation volatile’
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G.A. Mir condemned the student’s killing. “The situation is extremely volatile, as both the State and Central governments have miserably failed to restore peace and normalcy. The situation continues to deteriorate,” he said.
CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami asked the security forces to exercise restraint. “The law enforcing agencies are refusing to draw lessons from previous experiences. Such incidents are bound to inflame the situation. Unfortunately, no distinction is being made between civilians and militants,” he said.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have called for a shutdown on Friday.
