Two more civilians fall to CRPF bullets in Kashmir

Even before the anger over other civilian deaths could subside, two more men were felled by paramilitary forces in Sopore and Baramulla on Monday, pushing Kashmir on the brink.

According to police, central reserve police force (CRPF) troopers allegedly opened fire on mourners in Wadoora, Sopore this morning and one of the bullets hit Tajamul Ahmad, 17, killing him instantly.

Ahmad was one of the thousands of people who had defied a curfew in Wadoora to take part in the funeral procession of Bilal Wani, who was shot dead by the CRPF on Sunday. More than 31 people, including policemen, were injured in clashes and stone-pelting in various parts of the valley on Monday.

Two hours later, CRPF troopers again started firing on protestors in Delina, who had tried to break a police cordon to march towards Sopore. A nine-year-old boy was killed in the clash. This is the fifth casualty in north Kashmir since June 25.

Paramilitary opened fire and lobbed smoke shells on people who were heading towards Sopore to join Wani’s funeral procession.  Thousands of people started their march from Rajouri Kadal in the Old City but when they reached Umar Colony on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, a police contingent halted the march.

That’s when the crowd turned violent and started throwing stones and rocks at the police. They also tried to overturn police vehicles, prompting the men in uniform to use force. The battle continued for hours.

“We did not allow the procession to go ahead. In the clashes and stone-pelting, six civilians and 12 policemen were injured. The situation is now fully under control,” said Farooq Ahmad, IGP (Kashmir range).

“The law and order situation has totally collapsed and people are feeling insecure. The Abdullah government has lost its authority and credibility,” Dilawar Mir, general secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said.

In a late development, the J&K government has said that it open to the option of calling in the army, if required, to control unrest. “We might seek help from the army to control the situation,” J&K minister Taj Mohidin said.