Kashmir unrest: Tension grips in valley after two more people killed

Farooq Ahmad Kuchay was killed when personal security officer (PSO) of additional deputy commissioner of Ramban opened fire on protestors in South Kashmir’s Lethpora village on Srinagar-Jammu national highway late Tuesday night. Another youth was shifted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar in a critical condition.

Locals said a large number of people were protesting on the highway against the excesses when the vehicle of the officer passed by. The PSO guarding the officer allegedly opened fire. killing the youth on the spot.

Hours later another youth was killed by unidentified people at Karan Nagar. Riyaz Ahmad Shah, an ATM guard was on way to his duties when he was killed. There were no protestors when the incident occurred.

“Two more protestors killed last night. The CM still wants to behave as though it's business as usual but why is the centre oblivious?” tweeted Omar Abdullah, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.

Two more protestors killed last night. The CM still wants to behave as though it's business as usual but why is the centre oblivious?

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) August 3, 2016

With two more killings the death toll has climbed to 52 in Kashmir since the unrest began on July 9, a day after the Hizbul Mujhadeen poster boy Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in an encounter at Bamdoora village of Anantnag district.

Curfew has been re-imposed in most parts of the Kashmir valley as a preventive measure after the fresh killings. Security forces in large numbers have been deployed to maintain order on the streets which has been simmering since July 9.