THE BURNING KASHMEER

Another macabre day
4 Killed In Fresh Firing; Khrew Youth Succumbs; People Defy Curfew; Shoot-At-Sight Ordered

Srinagar/Islamabad Aug 3: Paramilitary CRPF troopers and policemen killed three youth here, while a youth fell to the bullets in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, and a youth injured in clashes at Khrew, 2-days ago, succumbed to injuries at SK Institute of Medical Sciences, officials and reports said on Tuesday. With the killing of five more youth today the death toll in the 54-day unrest has mounted to 45.
Meanwhile, the state government today ordered shoot-at-sight in Srinagar to prevent people from defying curfew.

3 YOUTH KILLED IN SRINAGAR
In the fresh spate of killings in the city, three youth were killed in separate firing incidents by Police and CRPF, while nearly 70 others were wounded as people defied curfew and staged peaceful protests across the summer capital on Tuesday. The first casualty of the day was a youth, identified as Meraj-ud-Din Lone son of Muhammad Ayub Lone of Barthana, Qamarwari.
Witnesses said police and CRPF fired directly upon a peaceful procession injuring four protesters. The injured were rushed to SMHS hospital where one of them, Meraj-ud-din Lone, 23, succumbed.
Massive protests broke out in Qamarwari locality against the killing, which spilled over to other areas of the city including Shalteng, HMT, Iddgah, and other adjoining areas. At Narwara near Iddgah, forces again resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters killing Anis Ahmad Ganai, 17, son of Khurshid Ahmad Ganai of Dangarpora, Narwara. The deceased was hit by a bullet in his abdomen and died at SMHS hospital.
As the word about another killing spread protests across the city intensified. Police and CRPF men repeatedly resorted to baton charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. They offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones triggering clashes that continued throughout the day. Police ruthlessly beat people whom it could catch. They also beat-up and opened fire to chase away the media-persons present at the spot.
Hundreds of people, carrying Anis’s body marched towards Jamia Masjid in old city where they offered his funeral prayers. He was later laid to rest at Martyrs’ graveyard at Iddgah. At several points police and CRPF men resorted to aerial firing and lobbed teargas shells on the mourners. However, they didn’t relent and marched ahead.

FIRING IN PARIMPORA
As the protests were on, police and CRPF men opened fire to disperse the demonstrators at Parimpora on city outskirts. In the police action at least five persons sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to a hospital where Suhail Ahmad Dar, 15, of Zainakote HMT succumbed.

Bullet had hit the deceased in his abdomen.
Pro-freedom protests and fierce clashes also broke out in Khanyar, Nowpora, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Chattabal, Fateh Kadal, Safa Kadal, Bemina, Tengpora, Karan Nagar, Hyderpora, Rawalpora and several other localities as people defied curfew and poured onto streets.

NIGHT PROTESTS
Youth recited hymns and raised pro-freedom slogans over Masjid loud speakers in most of the old city areas, which continued throughout the night.
Police and CRPF men fired dozens of rounds of fire in air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse protesters who responded by stones.
Residents of Ibrahim Colony in Parraypora raised massive pro-freedom slogans in the evening. They condemned the atrocities committed by paramilitary troopers and police. Protesters were chased away by forces.

CRPF MEN RANSACK HOUSES
At Bemina, Khanyar, and Tengpora, CRPF men while chasing away protesters ransacked residential houses and vehicles parked on roadsides.
They smashed windowpanes of houses and damaged glasses of vehicles. Locals of Nundresh colony-B at Bemina said that policemen snapped their power supply lines to the area throwing entire area into darkness. Scores of persons were injured in the daylong clashes and firing.
Showkat Ali proprietor of Taj Sangmarmar of Rainawari told Greater Kashmir that this afternoon CRPF men damaged granite blocks in his shop worth Rs 3 to 4 lakhs. “They damaged the blocks and threw the granite blocks out on the road,” he added.
Residents of Rainwari also accused police and CRPF men of ransacking Kral Masjid in the area.

YOUTH KILLED IN KULGAM
A youth was killed and 15 others injured six of them critically when police opened fire on the protesters at Frisal in south Kashmir’s Kulgam area.
Witnesses said that hundreds of people from Yaripora, Arwani , Khudwani, Redwani, Qaimoh and other adjoining villages held a massive pro-freedom demonstration this morning. Police and paramilitary men who were deployed in strength in the area opened fire to disperse the protesters killing a protester, Jehangir Ahmad son of Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, of Chenigam Yaripora on the spot and injuring 15 others. Out of which six critically injured persons were referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment.
Doctors attending upon injured described the condition of Bilal Ahmad Wagay of Budroo, Yaripora as “not stable.”
As the word about deaths spread, hundreds of people came out of their homes and set ablaze the police post, Frisal. Protesters also set ablaze the residential house and three shops of Special Police Officer (SPO), Shabir Ahmad Yeetoo at Sherpora. They alleged that Yeetoo was the accompanying the police party that opened fire on the protesters.
In Kulgam town thousands of people assembled outside newly constructed Kulgam District Police Lines, in the outskirts to protest against the killings.
Policemen resorted to aerial firing and intense tear gas shelling to quell the demonstrators who offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones.

PROTESTS IN ISLAMABAD
Authorities imposed strict curfew in the entire Islamabad town though, there were reports of people defying curfew in some areas of the town including Ashajipora, Janglat Mandi and Sheerpora.
Protesters clashed with police and CRPF men who lobbed tear gas canisters and fired several rounds in air to disperse them. Later, heavy rain in the area forced the protesters to stay indoors.
When restrictions were eased massive pro-freedom demonstrations were witnessed in Khanabal, Batengoo, Naibasti, old town as well ass the civilian areas of KP road. Police and CRPF men were lobbing tear gas canisters and also firing rounds in the air to disperse the protesters who were offering stiff resistance by pelting bricks and stones.
Meanwhile, in Arwani area thousands of people from the nearby villages poured in and staged massive pro-freedom demonstrations. When the protesters reached near the army camp, a huge contingent of SOG men rushed there and resorted to intense tear gas shelling injuring several people. Police also fired hundreds of rounds in air to disperse the protesters. Later, the SOG men allgedly thrashed a 75- year old Muhammad Shaban Dar of Hassanpora . He was admitted in the hospital in a critical condition.
“Shaban had received multiple injuries and got six stitches,” said a doctor who treated him in the sub-district hospital, Bijbehara. Several vehicles and trucks were also damaged by the police.
Police and CRPF also used force on thousands of protesters from the adjoining villages of Bijbehara who tried to march towards the town where curfew was strictly enforced. Several people sustained injuries in the police action. Clashes, however erupted in the Bijbehara town late in the evening. Reports of violent clashes were also reported from Sangam villages where two people were shot dead and several injured by the forces on Monday.
Reports of protests were also received from Achabal, Kokernag, Dooru and Shangus areas of the district.
Late, in the evening when this report was being filed protesters attacked the house of an police Inspector, Nazir Ahmad Teli, at Gulshanabad at K.P road in Islamabad town. They ransacked the house and smashed the window panes of it. Later, a huge contingent of police and CRPF men rushed to the spot and lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
Protesters also pelted stones on the house of National Conference activist Muhammad Hussain Hafiz at Cheeni chowk. Policemen resorted to teargas shelling leaving one woman injured.

PULWAMA
Massive protests were also witnessed in almost all parts of Pulwama district. Spontaneous demonstrations erupted in Pulwama, Kakapora, Zadoora, Rajpora Pampore, Awantipora, Wachi and Tral. An 18 year old girl, Muneera daughter of Ali Muhammad was critically injured in Bablihar village when police and CRPF opened fire on the women.
Muneera had received bullet injury in the chest and was being treated at district hospital, Pulwama. In Zaldoora and Kakpora where an Imam, Yaqoob Ahmad was killed on Monday violent protests were witnessed. The protesters set ablaze an ICDS building in Kakapora. Thousands of protesters from the adjoining villages also marched towards the house of the slain Imam to express their condolence with the family.
In Chatipora area a baker who was thrashed by the CRPF men inside his bakery shop was admitted in the hospital in a critical condition.
Massive protests also rocked Shopian town and other adjoining areas on Tuesday.

KHREW YOUTH SUCCUMBS
A 25-year-old youth, Reyaz Ahmed Bhat from Khrew in south Kashmir succumbed to his injuries at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura Tuesday afternoon. Bhat was critically injured during clashes with the police and the CRPF men on Sunday in Khrew.
“Reyaz had sustained a firearm injury in his head , and died at the hospital this afternoon,” doctor at SKIMS said.

PROTESTER SHOT AT IN VARMUL
A 45-year-old man, Muhammad Akbar Wani son of Muhammad Shaban Wani, of Rangwar Varmul was critically wounded, when police fired upon demonstrators in north Kashmir’s Varmul town on Wednesday.
Police resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters from Rangwar and Ushkara villages, when they tried to march towards Varmul town to stage protests against the recent killings across the Valley, witnesses said.
They said a bullet hit the victim on his head and was referred to Srinagar for specialized treatment. Several people were also wounded due to teargas shelling and baton charge in the incident.
The protesters also torched the two-storeyed building of Irrigation and Flood Control department at Khawja Bagh Varmul. The police bunkers on Singhpora bridge were also razed to ground by people.

PROTESTS IN TANGMARG
Hundreds of people took to streets in Tangmarg this morning. Raising pro-freedom slogans protesters marched towards the native village of Agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir. As the angry protesters hurled stones on Mir’s house his guards resorted to aerial firing forcing people to disperse.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people took to streets in Sopur and adjacent village and staged massive demonstrations against the ongoing killings.
The protesters torched the damaged building of Power Development Corporation at Kapra and also tried to set the police post Warpora on fire , but police foiled their attempt .The protesters torched the buildings formerly used by army on fire in peripheries of town. The buildings including Rajendra post used by Army’s 22 RR in Bomai Sopur were also torched by the protesters.
In areas of Sangrama,Rafiabad and Kreeri, people also staged massive demonstrations against the killings.
Defying curfew, thousands of people took to streets in Trehgam and adjoining villages of area. The BSF troopers resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters and in retaliation the protesters damaged the filtration plant supplying water to BSF and CRPF.
Massive protest demonstrations were staged in the Shumnag,Langate,Kralgund,Unisoo and other areas of Kupwara. Elsewhere in district strict curfew was imposed in Handwara, Kralpora and Kupwara.
Meanwhile, Showkat Ahmed Mir of Unisoo Wahipora was a critically injured when CRPF troopers fired teargas canisters on protesters near Handwara this evening.
Two persons were wounded when CRPF troopers opened fire on protesters in Shumnag Kupwara late night. Thousands of people staged nocturnal protests in Kupwara town.

PROTESTS, FIRING IN BUDGAM
At least fourteen persons were wounded including four with bullet injuries when police resorted to firing and teargas shelling on protesters in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday.
Hundreds of people from Budgam and adjoining areas took to streets this morning and staged a massive pro-freedom demonstration.
As the protesters reached near Shiekhpora, police and paramilitary CRPF troopers resorted to indiscriminate firing on the protesters wounding four persons.
The injured Muhammad Ashraf Bhat, Muhammad Altaf Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed and Reyaz Ahmed were shifted to Bone and Joint hospital for treatment. Following the clashes large contingent of police and CRPF troopers were deployed to quell up the protests.
The protesters also pelted stones on the police station and CRPF camp in Chadoora area.

SHOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS
Police Tuesday morning announced shoot-at-sight orders in various parts of the city. It asked civilians to stay indoors.
At 11: 00 am police Flying Squad made announcement on loud speakers all along the Airport road directing people not to tread out.
“Srinagar Shehar Main Sakht Tareen Curfew Nafiz Kiya Gaya Hai. Log Apnay Gharoon Say Bahar Na Niklain Warna Dekhtay Hi Goli Maar Di Jaaye Gi (Strict curfew is being imposed in Srinagar city. People shouldn’t come out of their homes or else they will be shot at sight),” the Gypsy announced.
Similar announcements, according to reports, were also made in other parts of the Valley.
Soon after the announcement a cavalcade of Gypsies from police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) started doing the rounds of the Airport Road between Haiderpora and Humhama with armed men allegedly shouting abuses on the residents.
The locals accused the government of this “new kind of harassment where the SOG men are resorting to psychological torture of the people.”
“Till now this had been unheard of that abusive announcements would be made against the people,” said locals living close to the Police Headquarters at Peerbagh.

PROTESTS ROCK BANIHAL, KISHTWAR OBSERVES HUTDOWN
Protests broke out in Banihal area in Ramban district on Tuesday as the township observed complete shut down on the second consecutive day to protest against the continuous killings of innocents across Kashmir Valley.
People held protest demonstrations and observed shut down, even in far flung areas including Nowgam, Khari and Mandkabas.
Large number of people from the Banihal township and its adjoining areas Chingloo, Nowgam, Thatthar, Chireel, Dershipora, Lamber, Ishar, Kaskoot and Bankoot took to street this morning and staged massive protests.
Protestors also blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway for more than three hours and also burnt tyres.
Meanwhile, normal life was thrown out of gear in Kishtwar town, which observed a complete shut down to protest against the killings across the Valley.
Though the bandh remained peaceful, the police and district administration was continuously holding meetings with the prominent citizens of the area to avoid any kind of resistance in the district.

GANDERBAL
Police on Tuesday resorted to aerial firing at many places in Ganderbal district to disperse the protesters. Protesters from Panzin, Konmula and Najwan villages tried to enter the curfew bound Kangan town but forces prevented them from doing so.

6 INJURED IN BANDIPORA
At least six persons were injured when Police and paramilitary CRPF troopers used force to disperse hundreds of protesters in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday, while Army staged a flag march in several areas.
Massive pro-freedom protests erupted in different areas of the district against the continuous killings across the Valley.
Hundreds of people, including men, women and children, took to the streets late in the evening and staged massive protests.
Demonstrations also broke out at Kaloosa, Nishat Mohalla, Nusoo, Papchan, Madar, Kunan, and Nadihal.

MUDASIR’S CHAHRUM OBSERVED
Thousands of people from Hajin, Shahgund, Madvan, Saderkoot reached the Eidgah grounds at Naidkhai to observe the Chahrum of Mudasir who as killed by CRPF troopers three days ago.

4 INJURED IN SAFAPORA
Thousands protestors from Ajas, Saderkoot, Takiya, Churoo and Safapora were intercepted by police and CRPF in main chowk Safapora. Police resorted to aerial firing and fired numerous tearsmoke canisters to disperse them. In the Police action four persons were wounded.
Army was deployed along the Srinagar-Sumbal-Ganderbal Road to provide cover to the army convoys passing through the area.

(With Tariq Mir, Ghulam Muhmmad, Altaf Baba, Muhammad Taskeen, Sheikh Nasir, Malik Abdus Salam and Sheikh Nazir)