Kashmir Unrest: 5 More Killed In A Day
By Sheikh Imran Bashir
03 August, 2010
Agence India Press
Srinagar: Kashmir continues to remain tense after fresh violence on Tuesday left five people dead. The death toll since Friday has gone up to 28.
There are reports that shoot-at-sight orders had been issued in Srinagar to control crowds defying curfew but authorities deny it and said police was only making announcements on loudspeakers asking people to remain indoors and not to violate curfew failing which they will be dealt strictly.
The surge in public anger has been met with more forces and two additional battalions of Para-military forces are now in the Valley to break the series of violence.
The Centre has also decided to send an additional 2,000 paramilitary personnel to Kashmir, adding to the existing 3,200 currently based in the state. The additional forces will be deployed in all trouble-torn areas. But the violence is rising day by day, minute by minute.
Curfew was defied at many places in Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora and Baramulla, Awantipora and Kulgam.
In Frisal Sherpora, Kulgam, a police post and the house of a cop and Special Police Official (SPO) were set on fire by the protesters.
In Budgam Police post Soibugh, was set ablaze by angry mob. Security forces open tear smoke shells and use baton charges on the protesters.
The police had to use fire shots at few places, in which five persons lost their lives.
In Srinagar, at Eidgah despite the curfew and shoot at sight orders hundreds of people came out on Tuesday afternoon.
The crowds quickly swelled to thousands as they mourned 18-year-old boy Mohammad Anees who was killed in police firing near his house at Narwara.
Thousands of people carried the body of Anees to Jamia Masjid, the grand mosque in Srinagar, and performed his funeral prayers. The funeral procession was given safe passage till Eidgah, where Anees was laid-down in a grave in Martyrs Graveyard.
The news of the deaths saw people pouring into the streets in several areas in Srinagar and the police decided to move away from several localities. People performed prayers in the roads defying curfew. Police fired aerial shots and lobbed tear-smoke shells to control the restive crowd.
Mehraj-ud-Din Lone was hit by a bullet near Qamarwari area in the forenoon, when security personnel fired at the residents defying curfew. Hundreds participated in Lone's funeral leading to defiance of curfew.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had asked people to assemble at Eidgah today. The call, however, was foiled when the police re-arrested Geelani at a SKIMS hospital.
Third youth, Suhail Ahmad, was shot at when protesters hit streets in Shaltengh area. Suhail was shifted to a hospital in critical condition. Medical Superintendent of SMHS Hospital Dr. Waseem Qureshi told Agence India Press that the teenager Suhail Ahmad is critical as he had received bullets in his abdomen.
Reports reaching Agence India Press says that other seven were also wounded in Shalteng.
Two more persons were killed in Kulgam area. However a police press note issued here said that only one person was killed in Kulgam.
Riyaz Ahmed Bhat who was injured at Khrew on August 1 succumbed to his injuries in SK Institute of Medical Science today.
Meanwhile, night time protests are being held across Kashmir. Thousands of people in Srinagar are out on the roads holding protest demonstrations.
The situation in Kashmir is getting worse every day. Forty five people have now died since June 11 when the current uprising began. Hundreds have been injured during the period.
Copyright © 2010 AIPTV. All rights reserved. http://agenceindiapress.com
