Police said two men — Showkat Ahmad, 20, and Mohammad Ahsan, 40, — were killed and several injured when security forces guarding a railway track opened fire on protesters near Amargarh in Sopore.
Fresh deaths in firing by security forces in Sopore further vitiated the atmosphere in Kashmir on Friday. About 100 people were injured in police-protester clashes that followed. The death toll has now reached 20 since the unrest began on June 11.
Police said two men — Showkat Ahmad, 20, and Mohammad Ahsan, 40, — were killed and several injured when security forces guarding a railway track opened fire on protesters near Amargarh in Sopore. The firing occurred after the protesters resorted to stone-pelting after Friday prayers.
Earlier in the day, Iqbal Ahmad was critically injured after a bullet hit his head when security forces fired at protesters at Lone Mohalla in Srinagar’s Channapora area. Police said the protesters were asked to disperse peacefully but they pelted stones, forcing them to lob teargas shells and lathi-charge.
Locals, however, blamed the security forces for targetting youths without provocation. They said Iqbal Ahmad was not a protester but was fired at near his house.
Curfew has been clamped in several parts of the Valley as a precaution. Authorities also foiled Hurriyat hardliners’ march to Maisuma and banned two cable news channels for telecasting provocative speeches by the separatists.
After the report of the two deaths reached Pattan in north Kashmir, an angry mob set ablaze a police station. Several cops are believed to be trapped in the complex. Protesters blocked all roads and did not allow fire tenders to reach the site.
A civilian was killed in retaliatory fire by the security forces, taking Friday’s toll to three. More than 60 people were injured in the firing and subsequent clashes between people and police in Pattan alone.
“Mohammad Rafiq was hit in his chest and died in hospital,” Javid Ahmad, block medical officer, Pattan, said.
Another around 50 people, including eight securitymen, were injured in clashes in Tral township of south Kashmir. DIG of police (South Kashmir) Shafaqat Watali said the situation was tense but under control. “We are hoping that the people will disperse peacefully,” he said.
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