Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 13: A 22-year-old youth and a close associate of the Speaker of Assembly was killed in Central Reserve Police (CRPF) firing in Srinagar this afternoon forcing the authorities to impose curfew in Srinagar city while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who arrived here from Jammu reviewed law and order situation this evening.
Provincial President of National Conference, Kashmir Province and former Minister of State (MoS) Home, Nasir Aslam Wani has strongly condemned the killing of Altaf Ahmad Wani in a firing incident at Saidpora, Srinagar.
A statement issued by Wani termed Wani’s killing as a cold blooded murder. He said Altaf was a staunch supporter of National Conference and was close associate of the Speaker of Assembly Mubarak Gul.
The killing of Speaker’s aide has forced Chief Minister to fly to Srinagar this evening. Immediately after his arrival, he reviewed security and law and order situation in the Valley at a high level meeting. The top brass of Army, Para-Military Forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Civil Administration attended the meeting.
The security agencies briefed the Chief Minister about the measures put in place to maintain clam and peace in the Valley after recent clashes across Kashmir especially after the killing of a youth in CRPF firing in Srinagar city.
The killing of NC worker led to widespread protests in old city Srinagar forcing authorities to impose curfew. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, said here that in order to avoid breach of peace and tranquility besides damage to life and property, restrictions on the movement of public and transport under Section 144 Cr PC have been imposed in entire Srinagar district from midnight March 13, 2013 till further orders.
He has directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar Ashiq Bukhari to implement the restrictions in letter and spirit.
The fresh tension in Srinagar started after the killing of a 22-year-old NC worker in CRPF firing at Ali Jan Road in Zoonimar area of Srinagar this afternoon. Saidpora is said to be strong hold of NC and vote bank of Speaker Mubarak Gul.
A police spokesman said here: “This afternoon some security personnel were ferried to SKIMS Soura for donation of blood to the victims of Bemina encounter. On their return, the vehicle they were travelling in came under the attack of stone pelting and other missiles at Saidpora, Zonimar Srinagar by miscreants. This resulted in opening up of fire, as a result of which one person Altaf Ahmad Wani Son of Abdul Ahad Wani resident of Saidpora was seriously injured. He has been rushed to hospital.” The hospital authorities, however, said that he was brought dead to hospital.
Residents alleged that Wani was killed by CRPF personnel without any provocation. “Altaf and his father were walking on the road when 39 battalion CRPF personnel who were moving in a vehicle opened fire”, said residents.
The killing led to widespread protests in Srinagar’s old city area. Reinforcements were rushed to the sensitive localities to maintain law and order
Wani was buried in Eidgah and hundreds of people participated in his last rites.
A police spokesman said: “Miscreants pelted stones at Sadipora, Zonimar, Nowabazar, Saraf Kadal, Soura, Eidgah and Soner Khud. No one was injured, till the last reports came in.”
Elsewhere normal life in Kashmir remained disrupted due to strike called by separatists. Shops business establishments remained closed and traffic was mostly off the roads. Schools and colleges were closed and the Kashmir University postponed all their examinations due to curfew and tension across Kashmir valley.
Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while condemning the killing of Wani called for complete shutdown on March 14 in protest to what he called a “revenge killing” by CRPF.
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