Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: Curfew was imposed in parts of Srinagar today after protests broke out following last evening’s killing of two youth in Army firing.
Clashes broke out last night in Nowgam area after the news about the death of two youth in Army firing spread in the area. Youth came out on streets in the area and clashed with police.
Police and Para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed heavily on the streets in and around Nowgam area in South of Srinagar. Police had erected barricades along the Srinagar Bypass and other major road in Southern part of Srinagar to block the movement of the traffic and people in the area.
In Nowgam Chowk youth pelted stones at police and CRPF. Police fired tear smoke shells to disperse them. The clashes continued for several hours but it didn’t spread to other parts of the Srinagar or Kashmir valley.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in majority of the areas in Kashmir. People mostly preferred to remain indoors as there were restrictions in parts of Srinagar as well.
The two killed youth Faizal Mohammad and Merajudin Dar were buried today amid tension in the Nowgam area.
The separatists have called for a general strike tomorrow against the killing of two youth. All the three factions of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Ahmad Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have called for strike and asked people to stay indoors to protest against the killings.
A spokesman of the district administration said that curfew like restrictions will be in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Mahraj Gunj, Rainawari, Safakadal and Nowgam police station areas tomorrow in view of the prevailing law and order situation in Srinagar.
In the meantime, a defence spokesman said here that Army moved with unprecedented speed to initiate investigations into the incident of firing at Chattergam.
“Overnight, the personnel alleged to be involved in the incident were moved to the location of the enquiry. The Deputy Commander of a neighbouring RR Sector conducting the enquiry has been tasked to complete the investigations at the earliest. The GOC Chinar Corps has assured that justice will be done”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that the condition of the two injured persons, Zahid Abdul Naqqash and Shakir Ahmed Bhat, who were rushed to the 92 Base Hospital after the incident and were immediately operated upon, is stable. “Their families were brought to the hospital where arrangements were made for their stay enabling them to stay close to the patient. Army is in touch with the families of the deceased and has assured all assistance to them in this hour of grief”, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Budgam today submitted the interim report into the Chattergam firing incident in which two youth were killed and two others injured, to the State Government.
The incident report prepared by DC Budgam, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, revealed that naka party of the Army fired upon the vehicle. “Initial investigation revealed that the Maruti 800 was on way from Chattergam towards Nowgam, Srinagar. It carried five persons namely Burhan Yosuf Bhat alias Faisal son of Mohamamd Yosug Bhat, Mehraj-ud-Din Dar son of Ghulam Mohammad, Shakir Rehman Bhat son of Abdul Rehman, Zahid Ayoub son of Mohammad Ayoub Naqash and Basim all residents of Nowgam,” the report said.
“As per the eyewitnesses, the Maruti 800 was stopped by the Army naka party but it skidded off the road and hit a pole on the road side. In the meantime one of the detachment of the naka party fired upon the vehicle resulting into death of Burhan alias Faisal Mehraj-ud-Din and injuries to Shakir and Zahid,” it added.
However, the report said fifth person traveling in the vehicle namely Basim managed to escape from the spot.
Meanwhile, Ishfaq Ahmad brother quoting his brother Zahid said that the accident occurred after a speeding Tipper coming from opposite direction was about to hit it. “The driver of the Maruti tried to save himself and in the process the car was hit with an electric pole. All of a sudden Army started firing on the Maruti,” he said adding Basim had a miraculous escape as he could run away from one of the window of the ill fated vehicle.
When contacted, DC Budgam Manzoor Ahmad Lone confirmed that the report has been submitted to the Government.
Militants today attacked a CRPF at Sopore township with a grenade in North Kashmir district of Baramulla.
Police said that militants fired a rifle grenade towards a CRPF bunker at Iqbal market Sopore from an unknown place. However, the grenade did not explode and the area was immediately sealed off and those present were asked to rush to safer places. A Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused the grenade without causing any damage.
Militants this evening fired on a Police bus near Batpora in Awantipora in South Kashmir injuring a lady constable Shahzada. She was removed to Srinagar for treatment. Police, Army and CRPF have cordoned off Gulzarpora, Batpora and Begpora areas of Awantipora to nab the militants responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, a masked militant this evening barged into house of a CPM worker at Panipora in district Kulgam and fired at him.
SP Kulgam Mohammad Shafi told Excelsior that a masked gun man fired at Mohammad Ahsan son of Ghulam Mohammad but he escaped unhurt. He said that inmates raised alarm and police also rushed to spot but the militant managed to escape
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