Curfew in Kashmir after protester killed in firing

SRINAGAR: Curfew was clamped in Baramulla town on Sunday after security forces fired on people protesting the arrest of several local youth in the last few days, killing a man and injuring two.

Police said a large number of protesters took to the streets in the morning, raising slogans and seeking the release of those arrested. The protest soon turned violent, with a few youth pelting stones at the forces.

In retaliation, police fired smoke shells and baton-charged the protesters. However, when things did not improve, the forces had to open fire, in which Irfan Ahmad was killed on the spot and two other youth injured.

The protests intensified after the killing, forcing police to clamp curfew.

The violence comes a day before the Hurriyat-led coordination committee’s planned human chain from the high court to the lower court complex here to protest the landing of troops in Kashmir 61 years ago.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net