Srinagar, Wednesday, April 30th, 2014: Police had to use tear smoke shells and firing to disperse the protesting mob just in old city of Srinagar resulting in the killing of one person.
A handful of protesters clashed with an Indian police party during which rifle of one cop felt down as he tried to flee from the spot. Sources said as managed to get back his service rifle, he fired indiscriminately on the protesters injuring Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Brari Pora Nawa Kadal in Srinagar.
Meanwhile in the same incident another protester Nazir Ahmad is said to be injured, but stable. Reports said that another youth namely Khalid is being treated at Soura Institute of Medical Sciences. The injured was immediately shifted to hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. As the news spread, people came on roads and started to shout anti-India slogans
Bashir was killed and five others sustained injuries when police opened fire at a group of stone pelters who pelted stones at a polling party returning from Nawa Kadal. The forces accompanying the staff opened fire at the stone pelters. "The protesters pelted stones wounding a paramilitary personnel identified as Sandeep Kumar of 131 Bn. Subsequently, the forces opened fire besides resorting to pellet firing. The injured persons were identified as Bashir Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Gratbal Nawakadal , Nazir Ahmad Kaloo resident of Nawakadaland Haleema Bano, wife of Reyaz Ahmad Sheikhsaz of Gretbal, Nawakadal," GNS reported.
Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Owais was hit by a bullet in abdomen and Haleema was hit with pellet on head, sources said, adding that the injured Bashir later succumbed to injuries at Soura hospital.
Medical Superintendent, Soura Institutue of Medical Scieces Farooq Ahmad Jan told GNS that a youth was brought dead to the hospital. He had received bullet in abdomen. At least three more persons were injured in the clashes that erupted in other localities of down town Srinagar after the news of youth’s killing spread.
Bashir Ahmad alias Owais who was admitted to Soura Institute of Medical Sciences in a life threatening condition and we operated upon him, but he could not survive, a top doctor said. He said two other injured including a woman, Haleema, are being treated upon. Haleema has received pellet injuries in her abdomen. "Two boys were hit by bullets and one of them has a critical bullet wound in his abdomen," a local told Kashmir Dispatch. Owais, a mason by profession hails from Gratebal was rushed to the specialized hospital where he breathed his last.
Gratbal residents confirmed to the Dispatch that the youth has passed away. His family members confirmed his death and said that he had received four bullets in his abdomen. Doctors said the other injured youth has received a bullet in his upper thigh. There was no official confirmation from the police yet. Protests were going on in Gratebal and adjacent localities as the news of his death spread.
"They fired and a bullet hit a youth," an eyewitness told Authint Mail. The injured were taken to Soura Institute of Medical Sciences Soura where Owais succumbed to his injuries. At least three more persons were injured in the clashes that erupted in other localities of old city after the news of youth’s killing spread. "He had suffered fire arm injuries in his abdomen and thigh," a doctor at Soura Institute of Medical Sciences told Authint Mail.
Two persons identified as Bashir Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat resident of Gratbal Nawakadal and Nazir Ahmed Kaloo resident of Nawakadal got injured in Nawakadal area jurisdiction of police station Safakadal Srinagar. Bashir Ahmed later on succumbed to his injuries. While Nazir Ahmed Kaloo has got injured in arm and is out of danger," a statement issued by J&K police on Wednesday evening said.
A civilian died and four others, a woman among them, were injured when Central Resercer Police Force personnel opened fire on a group of persons in old Srinagar on Wednesday evening. Local residents said forces fired indiscriminately without any provocation at a group of men playing cricket in Nawa Kadal, leading to the death of Bashir Ahmad Bhat, 24, a Pashmina shawl weaver, besides critically injuring four others including one Nazir Ahmed Kaloo, a news reporter said. Bashir Ahmed later on succumbed to his injuries, while Kaloo is out of danger,'' the report said. Reports said that another youth namely Khalid is being treated at Institute of Medical Sciences Soura..
Authorities in Kashmir have imposed an undeclared curfew in old Srinagar city following the killing of a youth in firing by forces moments after Indian Lok Sabha polls for the Srinagar constituency ended on Wednesday evening.Large contingents of police and paramilitary forces are patrolling the streets to prevent any protests after a youth, Bashir Ahmad, was killed when forces opened fire at a group of protesters in Nawa Kadal locality. The procession of the slain youth was also targeted as it marched towards his native Nawa Kadaln locality with forces using teargas and aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
There are reports of injuries to many persons but police refused to confirm the exact number of injured people. The slain youth was laid to rest amid pro-freedom and anti- India slogans in Martyrs Graveyard of Srinagar.Hundreds of people participated in the funeral of the slain youth in Jama Masjid, shouting pro-Azadi and anti-India slogans.
The killing has been condemned statments said the killings with impunity only add to tragedies.
Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad have called for shutdown on Thursday against the killing 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..
Omar Abdullah has expressed grief over the incident said that the circumstances leading to this tragic loss of life would be thoroughly probed.