Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 21: A protester was killed today after Army opened fire during the clashes in Beerwah area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district while police foiled separatist march to United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Srinagar by imposing curfew like restrictions.
Soon after the Friday prayers, protests broke out in Beerwah area of district Budgam during which protesters pelted stones at the police and security forces.
Army opened fire when they were heading towards their camp in the area, which resulted in severe injuries to two youth. One among the youth who had received bullet injuries in his head, succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as Tanveer Ahmed Wani, a resident of Arwah village in Beerwah.
Thousands of people participated in the funeral prayers of the Wani. Following his burial, clashes broke out at several places n the area, during which security forces fire tear smoke to disperse them.
Giving details of the incident, police said that as per initial information received, a foot patrol of Army was returning to its camp and near Beerwah when some miscreants pelted stones at them. “Someone among these miscreants also hurled a fire cracker towards the Army men. Because of bang the Army men thought a grenade was hurled and they retaliated. Two persons identified as Tanveer Ahmed Pala and Mohammed Ibrahim Wani were injured,” he said, adding that among them Tanveer succumbed to his injuries while Ibrahim is stable.
Police said that a First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against Army over the killing of a youth in Beerwah town. They said that an FIR has been registered against Army’s 53 RR over the killing of Tanveer Ahmad Wani.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Colonial Rajesh Kalia while giving Army version of the incident said: “An Army patrol was subjected to heavy stone pelting by a mob in Kondur village near Beerwah town at 1315 hours today. In no time the numbers swelled and the intensity of stone pelting increased.”
“Some stone pelters tried to close in with the patrol and snatch weapons from the soldiers. Two persons were reportedly injured when troops opened fired. One of the injured, however, later succumbed to his injuries,” he said.
In the meantime, authorities today imposed curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar city to foil a march to the office of United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Srinagar that was called by separatists.
To foil the proposed march, police and paramilitary security forces had sealed all the roads leading to Sonwar with razor wires and erected barricades. They imposed the restrictions in Lal Chowk, Sonwar and Old City areas.
The authorities disallowed Friday prayers at historic Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. Security forces were deployed at Nowhatta and in adjoining areas and didn’t allow any movement of people in the area.
Soon after Friday prayers, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik along with his supporters tried to take out a march from Buchwara Dalgate towards UN office. The march was foiled by police who were deployed in strength there. Malik and few of his supporters were detained.
Clashes erupted in the area between security forces and protesters after Malik’s arrest. Security forces fired teargas shelling on protesters to disperse them. The clashes also erupted in Sopore and Tahab areas after Friday prayers.
And in response to separatist strike call and curfew like restrictions, the normal life in Kashmir was paralysed. The shops, business establishments, schools and colleges remained closed and traffic was mostly off the roads. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla was suspended for security reasons.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel