SRINAGAR: A youth was killed and another wounded when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse “pro freedom” demonstrators who were pelting stones on polling party in the down towncity this evening. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assured a thorough time-bound probe while both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and other separatist organisations have called for a strike tomorrow.
Official sources said security forces opened fire when “pro freedom” demonstrators pelted stones on a polling party returning after voting at Nawa Kadal area in the downtown city this evening.
They said two people were injured who were rushed to S K Institute of Medical Sciences Soura. One of the youths later died while another was out of danger, they said.
However, a police release issued late tonight said that in the evening after the polling was over a party of security forces came under severe attack by some miscreants in Nawakadal area.
It said that miscreants snatched the weapon of a security force personnel. In the ensuing scuffle two people identified as Waseem Ahmed Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat resident of Gratbal Nawakadal and Nazir Ahmed Kaloo resident of Nawakadal got injured. Ahmed later on succumbed to his injuries while Nazir Ahmed Kaloo injured his arm and is out of danger. Expressing grief over the death of a youth in security force firing in the downtown Srinagar this evening, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the incident would be probed thoroughly.
In a statement here tonight, Mr Abdullah has expressed profound grief and sorrow over an incident of firing in Nawa Kadal that has resulted in the loss of a life.
Expressing his solidarity with the bereaved family, he said that the circumstances leading to this tragic loss of life would be thoroughly probed.
The Chief Minister has extended his heartfelt condolences with the family of the deceased and said that such incidents are a matter of personal pain and grief for him and he will ensure that the matter is probed in a thorough and transparent manner.
Dr Abdullah has also expressed grief and sorrow over an incident of firing resulting in the loss of a life. Condemning the incident, Dr Abdullah has asked the State Government to conduct a transparent and time-bound probe to ascertain the truth.
He has said that he stands with the family in this moment of inconsolable sorrow and loss.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) have called for a general strike in the Kashmir valley tomorrow against the killing of a youth in security force firing.
Chairman breakaway HC Syed Ali Geelani has to appealed for complete shutdown tomorrow and peaceful protest demonstration after Friday prayers against the killing of an innocent youth at Gratabal Nowakadal Srinagar. While strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by the CRPF and police on the peaceful demonstration, Geelani said that this is another blot on the face of Indian big democracy.
Chairman of moderate HC has also called for a general strike in the valley tomorrow against the killing of youth. JKLF has also called for a complete strike tomorrow against the killing.
A number of other separatist organisations, including Democratic Freedom Party and Islami Tanzeem Azadi have also called for strike. (AGENCIES)
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