Baramulla protests minor’s death

Violent protests rocked the garrison town of Baramulla on Saturday after a 13-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a tear-smoke shell fired by the cops on Friday.

Irfan Ahmad Lone, 13, was grievously wounded after he was allegedly hit a by a smoke shell when police used baton charge and fired smoke shells to disperse a mob that tried to lead a procession after Friday prayers demanding the release Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani who continues to remain under house arrest.

Lone was shifted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) where he succumbed to his injuries late Friday night. As soon as the news of his death reached Baramulla, people took to streets and started protests.

However, the police claimed that the boy died of a pulmonary cardiac arrest. “Doctors at SKIMS have told us that he died of the pulmonary cardiac arrest”, said Farooq Ahmad, IGP, Kashmir zone.

Thousands of people joined his funeral on Friday night. The adjoining town of Sopore also erupted in protests against Geelani’s house arrest and the killing of the boy. “The authorities have imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent people from assembling in the town.

Police also arrested JKLF chairman Md. Yasin Malik and his associates when he was trying to go to Baramulla to offer his condolence.