Srinagar April 18, 2016: Use of brute force by Indian army, Central Reserve Plice Force, SPO, SOG and police in Kupwara district killed five civilians including a 65-years woman Raja Begua during the past six days but also caused grievous injuries to many youngsters.Indian troops opened fire on a mob and killed Mohammad Iqbal Peer, 20, of Burhama,d Nayeem Ahmad Bhat, 22, son of Gulam Qadir Bhat of Handwara and Raja Begum, 65-years of Langate and injured dozens in Handwara town. . Raja Begum succumbed to injuries in a hospital in Srinagar she had sustained in Tuesday’s firing.
On April 13, 2016: Indian troops killed a 18 year old student Jehangir Ahmad Wani, son of Ghulam-ud-Din Wani of Nagri, Kupwara, after being hit by a teargas shell in the head during protests in Drugmulla area of Kupwara district. On April 15, A police official said four persons were injured when Indian forces opened fire on a group of protesters at Kupwara’s Natnusa area. Among the injured, a 18-year old youth Arif Ahmad was injured critically and later succumbed. Two of the injured have been identified as Amir Ahmad Sheikh of Natnusa, Danish Ahmad Sheikh of Wadipora.
Other several civilians including Yawar Rashid (18), Gowhar Majid (18), both residents of Trehgam, Kupwara were injured in Trehgam. The youth were injured due to pellets and have been admitted in SHMS hospital Srinagar
The people in the rally were protesting against the killing of four persons in Indian army firing earlier this week in Handwara.
The deceased was identified as ArifHussain Dar (18) son of GhulamMohidin, resident of AwooraTrehgam, Kupwara. Arif was a student of class 11 and was staying with his maternal uncle at Nutnusa.
The injured were identified as Faisal Ahmad Lone (30) son of Ghulam Muhammad of Gulgam, Wajid Ahmad Lone (21) son of Fayaz Ahmad and Javid Ahmad Mochi (17) son of Muhammad Sultan of BramriKupwara. Faisal is the Imam of a local mosque in Nutnusa while Wajid and Javid are students.
“Our hospital received four persons with bullet injuries,” Block Medical Officer (BMO) Kupwara, Dr Fareed Ahmad, told media Friday evening. “One Arif succumbed among the injured. Three others have been referred to Srinagar.”
The doctor said that Arif had received bullets in legs. “One of the reasons of his death is blood loss,” Dr Fareed said. “One among the injured has received bullet in head.”
Reports said Indian troops of 47 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) deployed at Nutnusa on Srinagar-Kupwara highway opened fire on the protest rally.
The family of Danish Mir of Draigam, Bunpora, who is being treated at the SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, is readying for taking him outside Kashmir for specialised treatment after doctors said he may lose eyesight.
Three days ago, when people were protesting against the killing of three persons in Handwara on Tuesday, Indian CRPF troopers fired a teargas shell at Danish.
“They targeted me directly. I have splinters in my right eye,” he said.
Another critically wounded youngster, Mansoor Ahmad, has been discharged from this hospital because his family wanted to take him outside the state for treatment. He has suffered grievous an injury in his left eye and the chances of it retaining sight are bleak, said a relative of Mansoor who had come to SMHS Hospital to collect his medical reports.
The silence in a ward in SMHS Hospital is broken occasionally by the wails of the victims of CRPF and police firing. They requested not to be photographed as they feared persecution by police.
Yawer Rasheed, a 28-year-old carpenter, was hit by a flash grenade. He has suffered burn wounds in face, arms, elbows and chest.
Recounting the incident, Rasheed said, “I was in the courtyard of my home at Draigam on Friday. Everything was normal. Suddenly some Indian CRPF vehicles appeared and started firing teargas shells inside houses. I was hit in my head and don’t know what happened afterwards. I regained consciousness in this hospital,” Rasheed said.
Rasheed’s attendant, who doesn’t want to be named, said the government forces went berserk, broke window panes, doors and entry gates of the most houses in the village.
“There was chaos in the village and more than 40 persons were hit. The worst part is that the forces did not allow people to carry injured persons to nearby hospitals,” he said.
Sajad Ahmad, 24, is a resident of Poshpora, Kupwara. A teargas canister broke his left femur bone. Poshpora is a village in the neighbourhood of Draigam. “Indian paramilitary forces of CRPF vehicles entered the village and fired shells without any reason,” Ahmad said.
“Most of the injured persons from Kupwara and other areas have been hit by teargas shells during the past few days. Some of them have been advised to go outside for treatment,” a doctor at SMHS told media men.