Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 8: A 13-year-old boy, who suffered pellet injuries last evening, succumbed at SK Institute of Medical Sciences this morning leading to protests in parts of Srinagar city, forcing authorities to impose curfew while 61 persons were arrested across Kashmir on charges of stone pelting and inciting youth to violence.
Junaid Ahmad Akhoon, son of Ghulam Ahmad Akhoon was lone son of his parents and he was hit by pellets in chest and head last evening at Saidapora in Safakadal area of Srinagar as security forces were tackling protests in the area.
He was shifted to SKIMS hospital and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, he succumbed to injuries in the wee hours of today.
Hundreds of people came out on streets carrying body of Akhoon during which police and CRPF fired tear smoke at his funeral.
As his succumbing spread in the area, huge contingent of security forces was deployed in Aali Masjid and adjacent areas of Srinagar. Security forces fired teargas on the procession. However, he was later buried at Eidgah.
Curfew was imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order after the killing of Akhoon.
A police spokesman said that curfew was imposed in seven police station areas of Srinagar city to thwart any possible protests against Akhoon’s killing.
Clashes and protests were reported from different areas in Srinagar since this morning. In Soura, clashes erupted after Akhoon’s death during which dozens of protesters were injured.
Clashes were also reported from Saidapora and Aanchar areas during which security forces fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
A wanted stone pelter was arrested in Hajin area of Bandipora district when he went to the hospital for treatment. He had arrived at hospital for treatment of bullet injury, he received on July 28. However, security forces cordoned off the area and arrested him.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the situation remained by and large peaceful across Kashmir valley today although a few stray stone pelting incidents were reported.
“As a precautionary measure, curfew remained imposed in few police stations of Srinagar city. There was no curfew elsewhere in the Valley,” it said.
According to the statement, the markets were open across Kashmir and vendors continued to do their normal business in the streets, lanes and by lanes in Srinagar city and in other towns of the valley.
The statement said that traffic movement continued to grow across the towns and the roads connecting different towns of the Kashmir valley. “There was enhanced business and increase in other daily activities was also observed,” it said.
The statement said that in its sustained drive against the miscreants across the Kashmir valley, 61 persons involved in different offences of creating public disorder and disruption of normal activities were arrested by police during past 24 hours.
The normal life remained disrupted in Kashmir for 91st day today due to shutdown and curfew. Shops, business establishments, schools, colleges remained closed and public transport was off the roads. However, private cars were plying and some shops were open in Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar areas of the city.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla and mobile internet services and prepaid mobile services continued to remain blocked.
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