Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI, Apr 13: Two people were killed today in North Kashmir taking the death toll in the alleged security forces firing since yesterday to four while 112 police men were injured in fresh clashes that broke out at several places in Kashmir against Handwara killings even as authorities imposed curfew like restrictions in parts of the Valley.
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda accompanied by Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua today visited the Handwara area and interacted with officers and soldiers regarding the incident in which three civilians were killed when protesters tried to storm an Army post.
The Army Commander termed the killings highly regrettable and asked for early completion of inquiry into the incident. “Terming the incident as “highly regrettable”, the Army Commander has asked for an early completion of the enquiry, already ordered. The Army has also offered to take care of the expenses for hospital care and subsequent rehabilitation of those injured in the incident”, the spokesman said.
A woman, Jana Begum, who was hit by a stray bullet yesterday succumbed to her injuries this morning in SKIMS hospital Srinagar. Raja Begum, in her fifties, wife of Mohammad Jamal Mir, was admitted to SKIMS hospital in critical condition after she was hit by a stray bullet yesterday while she was working in her vegetable garden in Kargam village, 2-km from Handwara town.
The killing of two youth triggered massive protests in Kupwara and other parts of Kashmir valley today. Protests broke out at Handwara, Langate, Drugmulla and other areas against the killings at Handwara.
A youth Jehangir Ahmad Wani, son of Ghulam-ud-Din Wani, resident of Nagri, Drugmulla, was hit by a teargas shell at Drugmulla during protests and succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Following the killing of Wani, the situation took an ugly turn in the Kupwara district as more and more people took to streets and staged protests. Police said that angry protesters set ablaze Police Post Langate and also attacked Police Post Magam. Over two dozen civilians were injured in the clashes across Kupwara today.
A police spokesman said that 110 police men and two CRPF jawans were injured in clashes that broke out at several places across Kashmir today. “Police exercised utmost restraint despite heavy provocations. During the process of dispersal of unruly mobs, about 110 Police personnel got injured. Cases have been registered regarding death of civilians in law & order incidents and investigation started”, he said.
The spokesman said that mobs attacked police posts at Magam and Langate in Handwara area of North Kashmir and in Drugmulla, one of the protesters was injured who later succumbed to injuries.
“The burial of the three civilians, who died in yesterday’s incidents at Handwara, concluded at Kupwara, Langate and Handwara today. After burial miscreants attacked Police Post Magam (P/S Handwara) and caused extensive damage to the building. Similarly, P/P Langate was also attacked by a mob of over 2000 causing extensive damage to the building and burning down of a shed within the premises of P/P Langate. Miscreants also resorted to heavy stone pelting in Handwara town during the day. During law and order problem at Drugmulla Kupwara, one Jahangir Ahmad Wani S/o Ghulam-ud-Din Wani R/o Nagri, Kupwara, received head injury and later succumbed in the hospital. He was buried in his ancestral graveyard later in the evening”, the police spokesman said.
Police said that two CRPF men were injured in clashes. “In Srinagar also, some parts of down town city witnessed stone pelting in which two CRPF jawans namely Head Constable Rajesh Verma of 54 Bn. CRPF and Constable Mukesh Mishra of 49th Bn. CRPF got seriously injured and were admitted in SMHS Hospital Srinagar for treatment. One of the jawans was later referred to Bone and Joints hospital Barzulla, Srinagar”, he added.
The spokesman said that the situation in other parts of the Valley remained by and large peaceful. “General public is requested to please refrain from indulging in lawlessness, remain calm and help the administration in maintaining peace and order”, he added.
In Delhi, Mehbooba sought from Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar a “time-bound inquiry” into the Handwara firing, which left a budding cricketer and two others dead.
In her meeting with Parrikar, she sought a time bound probe saying it will act as a deterrent against such incidents in future.
Describing the firing incident as “very unfortunate”, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said, “I spoke to the Defence Minister. He assured me that a probe will be initiated and the culprits will be punished.
“At the same time the family (of the victims) will be compensated. Such incidents should not happen in the future,” she said after meeting Parrikar.
Mehbooba said such incidents shake the confidence of the people and adversely impact the efforts of the State Government in consolidating peace dividends.
Even as she sought from Parrikar adequate compensation for the families of the victims, Mehbooba said the loss of lives of the innocent civilians cannot be compensated by whatsoever means.
Mehbooba had yesterday said the security personnel involved in the killing of two youths will be handed exemplary punishment, saying such incidents “cannot” be tolerated.
Mehbooba also raised a number of other issues including the handing over certain portions of land not required by the Army to the State so that they can be used for promoting tourism and developing civic, educational and infrastructure facilities in the larger public interest.
She also took up the issue of concrete action by the Defence Ministry on the decisions taken into the civil-military liaison conference besides revision in the rates of rent to different categories of land held by the Army and revision of compensation provided to people affected by Field Firing and Artillery Practices.
Mehbooba also expressed grief over the unfortunate death of a youth during a protest in Drugmulla area of Kupwara district today.
“I express profound grief over the tragic death of the youth and extend my heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family members in their hour of grief,” she said.
Mehbooba said that disproportionate use of force for crowd control results in loss of precious lives and grave injuries which should be avoided at all costs.
The Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara to provide all possible assistance to the grief-stricken family.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has also expressed deep anguish on Handwara incident in which 4 persons have been killed in a firing by security forces. “My heart goes with the family members of those who have lost their dear ones,” he said.
Azad has also requested the State Government that the enquiry announced by it. should be completed in a time bound manner and persons found guilty for the killings of innocent lives be punished.
Meanwhile, the normal life in Kashmir remained paralysed due to strike called by separatists and curfew like restrictions imposed in parts of Kashmir valley.
Kashmir valley observed shutdown today with shops and business establishments closed. The public transport was also off the roads but private vehicles were plying.
To prevent violence in some sensitive areas of Srinagar, authorities imposed restrictions in Old City and Maisuma Police Station areas since early morning. Hundreds of police and CRPF men were deployed in the areas which were placed under restrictions. The main roads and junctions were blocked with mobile bunkers and concertina wires in Old City and Maisuma area.
During the shutdown, the clashes erupted at Habba Kadal and Narbal areas in city. Police lobbed several teargas shells to disperse the protesters. However, no one was injured in these clashes. The clashes also erupted in entire downtown and Gawkadal soon after restrictions were lifted.
The shutdown was also observed in all other districts of the Valley. A protest demonstration was held by people at Tral in South Kashmir on the first death anniversary of Khalid Muzzafar Wani, who was killed by Army last year on April 12. The slain is the brother of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
In the meantime, the restrictions in Srinagar will continue tomorrow to prevent any violence. The mobile internet in North Kashmir was also shut down as a precautionary measure.
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